Mr. Speaker, the Constitution of the Fourth Republic prescribes that the President of the Republic delivers to Parliament a message on the state of the nation at the beginning of each session. This is what I have come to do.
Mr. Speaker, as I look around the House, I see empty seats on he Minority’s side.
It is a sad day that members of that side have chosen to absent themselves. It is sad again that they have resorted to this course of action, apparently in reaction to the judgement of a duly constituted court of law. It is even sadder that they seem to ignore the fact that the due process of going through appeals, as provided for by the Constitution, is yet to be exhausted, in this particular case.
Mr. Speaker, I want to use this occasion to ask them to reconsider their withdrawal from the House and come back to play their part to uphold the integrity of the House. I make this appeal in the light of the sincerity with which government is committed to the reconciliation process it has initiated for healing the wounds of the nation and to make for a fresh start.
Mr. Speaker, let me at this point acknowledge Mr. Abu Bonsrah, the honourable member for Fomena, who has taken his seat in the House from the recent by-election. I wish him a very successful term.
About two weeks ago, our own brother and compatriot, Mr. Kofi Annan, who has successfully completed two terms as Secretary-General of the UN returned home to Ghana to a hero’s welcome. He has since delivered a thought-provoking lecture which is the first in the series of the Golden Jubilee Lectures. I am sure the whole nation joins me in wishing him a happy return home, after his distinguished service for humanity.
Mr. Speaker, later, I shall talk about Ghana’s unanimous election to the Presidency of the African Union during this very auspicious year. Let me however thank the many well-wishers from around the country and beyond for their kind sentiments. The honour belongs to the entire nation.
Source: GhanaWeb
