Speaker Recalls MPs to Deliberate on Covid-19 Tax Waivers

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Michael Quaye has recalled Members of Parliament (MPs) for a sitting on Thursday, April 30, 2020.

According to a statement signed by Parliament’s Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo, the house, will among other things, consider waiving VAT on donated equipments and goods being brought into the country to help boost the fight against the Coronavirus disease in Ghana.

“The House will also be permitting the deduction of contributions and donations towards COVID-19 as allowable expenses for tax purposes and extending the due date for the filing of taxes from four (4) months to six (6) months after the end of the basis year,” the statement added.

The minority side in Parliament were unhappy with a decision by the Speaker’s decision to suspend the House instead of adjourning sittings.

Parliamentarians were supposed to go on a recess beginning on Saturday, April 4, 2020.

Instead of adjourning sittings sine die [indefinitely], the Speaker of Parliament suspended sittings sine die; a decision that did not go down well with the Minority MPs.

READ ALSO:

Majority Leader Misleading the Speaker of Parliament – Haruna Iddrisu

Per the Standing Orders of the House, if sittings were adjourned sine die, the Speaker would have to give MPs at least two weeks’ notice before the House could be recalled.

But with the indefinite suspension, the House could reconvene at any time to deal with an urgent business that may arise.

Prof. Oquaye explained that the decision was taken following the COVID-19 outbreak which could compel Parliament to be recalled at any time to attend to urgent business.