Former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has declared that she has no regrets about her decision to abstain from voting on the controversial Electronic Levy (E-Levy) during her time in Parliament.
In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Adwoa Safo explained the internal conflict she faced between her personal convictions, her church, and her political party.
She said, “I was torn between my church and my political party. I had a personal conviction that the E-Levy would not help Ghana.”
She further stated that she didn’t see the E-Levy as a solution.
“I saw the E-Levy as not sitting well with the people, especially the poor.”
Adwoa Safo went on to share that she consulted with her people and her church members before making the final decision.
“I spoke with my people and my church family, and I knew I had to take a firm stand,” she added.
The former MP noted that if she had gone against her beliefs, she would not have been accepted back into her church community.
“If I had gone against that, no one in my church family would have accepted me,” she said, stressing the importance of staying true to her values.
Reflecting on the decision, she stated, “I’m looking for that day when someone can take a stand like I did, without fear or compromise.”
When asked if she communicated her decision to her party, Adwoa Safo replied, “I told those who needed to understand.”
She explained that the issue started from the Cabinet level and noted that even then Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had expressed concerns about the E-Levy, with some even suggesting it should be scrapped.
“Even Bawumia wanted to scrap the E-Levy when he was campaigning. If it was a good thing, why would poor Ghanaians be subjected to this tax? It’s not good for the people” she said.
Reflecting on the criticisms she faced, Adwoa Safo revealed that she stood by her principled decision
“What my church, my father, and my people said… they didn’t listen, but I knew it would worry them in the end.”
She therefore acknowledged that the government’s failure to listen to concerns about the E-Levy contributed to their downfall.
“That’s why I made that principled decision. They lost because the E-Levy was part of their downfall.”
Adwoa Safo had been the subject of criticism for her absence from Parliament during the Akufo-Addo administration, with some accusing her of holding the NPP Majority Caucus to ransom, particularly during the passage of the E-Levy bill.
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