Former Member of Parliament for the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has finally addressed her decision to abstain from voting on the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) in 2022. She stated that she has no regrets about her choice. During an interview on Ekosii Sen on Asempa FM, the former Gender Minister explained that her decision was based on her belief that the E-Levy would not benefit Ghana and would instead create hardships for citizens. “I made that principled decision,” she said on Tuesday, March 18.
Adwoa Safo revealed that her decision was heavily influenced by consultations with her constituents, particularly church members in the Dome Kwabenya area, who expressed concerns about the negative impact the levy would have on their livelihoods.
She described being torn between her loyalty to her political party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and her commitment to the people she represented. The former MP stressed that her decision was principled and rooted in her desire to prioritize the interests of her constituents. She expressed pride in her choice, stating that going against the concerns of her church and community would have left them disappointed.
Madam Safo also called for more principle-minded voting on the floor of Parliament, urging lawmakers to prioritize their convictions over party directives. She argued that such an approach would enrich Ghana’s democracy and ensure that the voices of ordinary citizens are heard in legislative decisions.
Reflecting on the broader implications of her decision, Adwoa Safo acknowledged that the E-Levy’s passage had affected the fortunes of the NPP, including its performance in the just-ended general elections. However, she maintained that her choice was guided by her principles and the best interests of her constituents.
In the heat that accompanied the passage of the E-Levy Bill in 2021, there were conspiracy theories that the MP had been impersonated to ramp up the numbers of the then-Majority as she was not willing to return to Ghana. When she was asked if she was in the House on the day the levy was passed, Adwoa Safo stated she was present.
By: Kenneth Awotwe Darko