President delivering the State of the Nation Address

President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, delivering his second State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Thursday, touted the competence of his economic Management Team, led by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in reviving the national economy, saying the positive indicators had been picked up by international rating agencies.

Their performance, he said, while repeating the name of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, had increased the economic growth from 3.6 per cent to 7.9 percent, reduced the debt to GDP ratio and increased the foreign reserves significantly.

Members of Parliament from the Majority side, hailed this information with cheers, while those on the Minority side showed their disapproval with classic characteristic Parliamentary heckling.

The public gallery of the House is filled to capacity with anxious Ghanaians anticipating the President to touch on pressing national issues and the solutions to make the work and lives better in the coming months.

Most Ghanaians are expecting the President to review the achievements made so far in his first year of office and outline plans and strategies to deal with youth unemployment, the security situation, galamsey and also consolidating the gains made so far in the macro-economy.

The Government’s flagship programmes such as the Free Senior High School Policy, Planting for Food and Jobs, One District, One Factory, One Constituency, One Million Ghana cedis, among others are also expected to feature with their respective updates.

President Akufo-Addo, who is dressed in a splendid dark suit, with a dark-blue tie to match, arrived at the forecourt of Parliament House at about 1000 hours and took the General Salute from the security agencies and later inspected the Guard of Honour.

He then observed the relevant protocols.

At 10:22 hours, the Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, led the President into the Chamber of the House, which was followed with the playing of the National Anthem.

Dr Bawumia, Chief Justice Sophia Abena Akuffo. Service Commanders and the Inspector-General of Police David Asante-Apeatu are present.

Ghana’s former Presidents: Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama, as well as the former Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, a former First Lady and Ministers of State, Members of the Council of State and members of the Diplomatic Corps are also keenly listening to the address.

Surprisingly, after the national anthem, members of the Minority were still singing a verse of the anthem: “… to resist oppressors’ rule with all our will and might forevermore”.

The address is in accordance with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution.