HONOURABLE MICHAEL OKYERE BAAFI'S STATEMENT ON THE E-LEVY, A COMPLETE FALSEHOOD.

The attention of the  National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the New Juaben South Constituency of the Eastern Region has been drawn to a video circulating widely in the mainstream and social media, in which the Member of Parliament (MP) for the New Juaben South Constituency, Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi, is seen addressing Market women at the Koforidua Central Market, that the Minority Caucus in Parliament supports the E-Levy secretly and encourages the government behind the scenes to do all it could to pass the Bill.

We wish to remind Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi that the position of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, as regards the obnoxious E-Levy is a matter of public knowledge and reflects the unwavering solidarity of the NDC with the suffering people of Ghana.

In a press statement signed by the Communication Officer, Michael Odei Paddi, for the avoidance of doubt, the NDC is opposed to the E-Levy in any shape or form so it is mischievous that Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi, coming from the House of Records, will peddle such blatant falsehood in a desperate move to court public support for the E-Levy.

According to them, such actions are dishonorable of an Honourable Member of Parliament as they bring the office of the Member of Parliament into disrepute.

The high office of the Member of Parliament comes with responsibility. “We, thus, urge Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi to desist from such loose pronouncements forthwith and make his public utterances exemplify the dignity accorded the office of the Member of Parliament”, it cautioned.

“Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi's statements to the effect that the IMF will direct the government to suspend the implementation of the Free Senior High School Policy, for lack of fiscal space, if the E-Levy Bill is not passed, is a misinformation and miseducation of the Constituents of New Juaben South, which the NDC condemns in no uncertain terms”, it stressed.

“This misinformation, miseducation, and fear-mongering statements of the leadership of the NPP on the E-Levy cannot intimidate the many tax-burdened Ghanaians who are reeling under the yoke of President Akuffo Addo and Alhaji Bawumiah's misrule”, it explained.

“It must be re-echoed that no perfume from Arabia nor frankincense or myrrh from Israel can make the  E-Levy smell sweet”, it added.

“Indeed, the survey reports of ISSER, IMANI-AFRICA, UG Business School, UPSA, Central University, Media General, the Multimedia Group,  etc, have expressed an overwhelming rejection of the E-Levy by Ghanaians”, it stated.

It further cemented on the fact that Dr. Kwame Pianim, a stalwart of the NPP has described the E-Levy as a jerky maneuvering

Again, the former Member of Parliament for the New Juaben South Constituency and former chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah, has roundly rejected the E-Levy for other revenue mobilization options.

It mentioned that the NDC's position on the E-Levy remains unchanged. “We, therefore, urge Ghanaians, more particularly, the Constituents of New Juaben South, to disregard and treat with contempt, the statements of Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi, contained in the video making the rounds in the traditional and social media”, it assured.