The Majority Leader of Parliament has indicated the President has not breached any constitutional provision for failing to present the State of the Nation Address at its originally announced date.
The advertised announcement in Parliament about the State of the Nation address by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was withdrawn a few weeks ago.
Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin told Parliament on Friday, February 25 that the President will no longer be in the House on Thursday, March 3 to deliver the SONA as earlier advertised.
“This indicative date has, however, been put on ice by us and we would duly communicate a new date to the House after we have engaged the presidency,” the Effutu lawmaker stated.
During proceedings on Friday, March 11, 2022, Ellembele MP, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah questioned why the presentation had been delayed.
He asked the President to go to the Supreme Court and change the date for his presentation if he sole wish.
But responding to the concern raised by the NDC MP, the Majority Leader said the President has not breached any constitutional provision.
He explained that the President was still within the required period as stated by the constitution.
He argued that the constitution clearly states the SONA shall presented at the beginning of each session and before the dissolution of the House.
The beginning of each session he added comprises of three meetings in a year and the President was still within the time frame.
He stated the President will come when he will come and asked the MP to avert his mind to the true meaning of the constitutional provisions.
“Mr. Speaker, the constitution provides that the President SHALL at the beginning of each session of Parliament and before the dissolution of Parliament deliver a message on the State of the Nation Address (SONA). Parliament at each session and the session of parliament is meetings that we have in a year. Ordinarily, we have three meetings first meeting is the beginning of the session. So we are within the beginning of the session. People should avert their minds to this.”
By: Rashid Obodai Provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
