The Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament has denied an assertion by the office of the New Patriotic Party’s Flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, that he was not officially invited to Thursday’s State of the Nation event.
According to the Acting Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Kate Addo, an official invitation was extended to Nana Akufo-Addo, which was received by a lady named Mavis who works at the Flagbearer’s office.
President John Mahama on Thursday delivered his last state of the nation address in parliament.
It has been the practice over the years for all diplomats and dignitaries in the country to be invited to the ceremony which is held in Parliament. All presidential candidates of political parties in the country have, since time immemorial, received invitations to the address.
But Nana Akufo-Addo was conspicuously absent from this year’s event much to the surprise of many political watchers.
Nana Akufo-Addo’s office in response to enquiries earlier revealed to Kasapa News that neither did the State Protocol Directorate nor Parliament House invite the former Attorney General for this year’s State of the Nation address.
But in a swift reaction, Madam Kate Addo expressed surprise at the claims by the office of the veteran politician.
“We sent an invitation to him and was received by a lady staff of Nana Akufo-Addo’s office by name Mavis. Nana Addo being a former MP has always honoured invitations of the House. I am therefore sure that he could not honour our invitation this time for a very good reason. But it is definitely not because we did not invite him”.
“The House recognises the important role he and his party play in our body politics and accords him the necessary respect and courtesies,” she noted.
Kate Addo indicated that the Acting National Chairman of the NPP, Freddie Blay, showed up at the event having also been invited.
Source: GhanaWeb
