Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama is expected to deliver his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) today at the Parliament in Accra.
His four-year tenure ends on 7th January, 2017 following the emergence of a veteran politician Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the winner of the December 2016 general elections.
President Mahama’s address is in fulfillment of Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution and is expected to highlight some of the nation’s achievements and challenges.
According to a statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament and signed by its Deputy Director, Ms Kate Addo, after the address on Thursday, January 5, on the midnight of Friday, the House will be dissolved in order to usher in the sixth Parliament.
“Minutes after the life of the sixth parliament stands dissolved, the next one is activated by the inauguration ceremony that will take place on the midnight of the [7th of January],” it added.
The statement also added that, prior to the outgoing President’s address, the Chinese government will on Wednesday officially hand over some security equipment it donated to Parliament.
Governance experts say the outgoing President’s address may be reconciliatory.
Earlier, the President’s last SONA was scheduled for Thursday, December 22, 2016, however was postponed to January 5 that was necessitated by plans by the legislators to clear outstanding businesses before they break for Christmas holidays.
African Eye Report
