NPP to reveal real state of nation Wednesday - Minority Leader

The Minority in Parliament has said it will present a 'true' State of the Nation address on Wednesday March 4, 2015.

This is to counter President John Mahama’s version of the State of the Nation which was presented in Parliament today.

Minority leader in Parliament Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said the content of the President’s message will “certainly be discussed, but the true state of the nation will be unveiled on Wednesday.”

The minority members were sombre in their black and red attires, a turnout which the minority leader would later confess was to protest the dire power crisis and the poor state of the nation.

Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu indicated that his side was unimpressed with the President’s address because he made these same comments during the 2014 State of the Nation address.

“The President told us that we have been here before, last year he said the same things. We wanted to hear from the President that we were there before and we have put it behind us.”

Government for the first time announced plans to review the 2015 budget and the Minority Leader said was an indication that all is not well with the nation and more needs to be done.

Speaking on the loud silence of the minority throughout the President’s presentation – which is quite an unusual position taken by them, Mr Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said the decision to remain quiet during the President's delivery was a sign of respect to the House and the President.

He said “for the avoidance of doubt, it is important to state for the record that we [Minority] in this House have agreed to listen to the President’s insight. This self-imposition is to protect the dignity of the house and indeed the presidency.

“Let nobody tomorrow say that the President so much mesmerized the House that we couldn’t do anything but listen to him in silence”, he added.