Rejecting e-levy does not amount to obstruction of gov’t business – Muntaka

The Minority in Parliament has opposed remarks made by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II that rejection of the proposed electronic levy equals frustrating government policy.

On Sunday at his gala night in Kumasi, the Asantehene urged MPs not to dictate to government rather, allow the general populace to make their own conclusions at the polls.

“We elect people to represent us to make sure there is some equilibrium in what governments do. It is to our good that our representatives in Parliament subject the national budget to the most rigorous scrutiny and to call for changes.”

“Government must also have the humility to acknowledge and embrace the useful inputs from all sources, but our representatives need to bear in mind that it is not their role to either determine policy or to frustrate the executive from performing their legitimate duties,” the Otumfuo said.

Contrary to this, the Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak has argued that opposing the E-Levy does not amount to frustrating government.

For the Asawase MP, the move by the NDC MPs is rather to protect and promote the interest of the public.

“All over the world, oversight is done by the minority and we are just doing our work. We don’t intend to frustrate government, we don’t plan to obstruct government business, we will not stand in the way of government trying to do what is right.

“We cannot just leave our role in the House and wait for the next election. It is the reason a budget is brought here, it is the reason four state of the nation addresses are read within the four-year tenure. We can assure his majesty and all the pastors and imams that as Minority we are not here to obstruct government business. Encourage government to do what is right,” he said.