Members of Parliament in Ghana burned the midnight oil, debating and fighting over the levy of mobile phone transactions.
Matters got heated, which resulted in a bitter exchange of kicks and blows among the members.
Chaos started the Deputy Speaker of the house rose to go cast his vote over the proposed levy of 1.75 per cent on electronic transactions, which includes mobile money transactions.
The opposition MPs could have none of it and tried to stop him from voting during the session that he was chairing.
The Monday session had earlier been adjourned following disorder among the members.
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Ghanaian opposition took issue with the proposal, citing the fact that it will hit the low-income masses outside the banking sector.
The Ghanaian Minister for Finance however argued that the tax net needed to be widened as it could raise an additional $1.15 billion in 2022.
The session went extended to Monday midnight when the fight broke out, in which the ‘honourable’ members of parliament displayed their mastery of hand-to-hand combat.
Many Ghanaian citizens expressed their disappointment in the conduct of their representatives, saying they are role models, therefore, should not behave immaturely.
The session resumed on Tuesday after the dust had settled but was adjourned once again till January 2022.
#ACCRA
— Kennedy Wandera (@VOA_Wandera) December 21, 2021
BRAWL: Ghanaian MPs shoved, pushed and threw punches at each other, while others tried to stop the fighting during a late-night session over a contentious government-proposed levy on electronic transactions, @BBCNews
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