Debates of 5 Jan 2021

Order!
Hon Members, may I invite the Hon Majority Leader and the Hon Minority Leader to please join me to receive His Excellency the President at the Lobby.

Hon Members, the House is privileged to have the presence of His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, in the House. [Hear! Hear!]
His Excellency the President is here in accordance with article 67 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana to deliver a Message on the State of the Nation to this honourable House.
On behalf of the Leadership and Hon Members, it is my singular honour to welcome His Excellency, the President of the Republic to the House, accompanied by his dear wife, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
Hon Members, other honoured guests include His Excellency the Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Mrs Samira Bawumia, His Lordship the Chief Justice of the Republic, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, and other Justices of the Superior Courts of Ghana, and Madam Phyllis Ofori, spouse of the Chief Justice.
Other honoured guests include the former President of the Republic, H. E. John Agyekum Kufuor, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Omanhene of Juaben and the Chairman of the Council of State, and members of the Council of State, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare (Hon), Senior Minister, Hon Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Hon Hackman Owusu-Agyeman; member of the Parliamentary Service Board, spouse of the former Vice President; Hajia Ramatu Mahama, the Dean and
members of the Diplomatic Corps; traditional and religious leaders, distinguished members; leaders of political parties, Hon Freddie Blay; Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Mr John Boadu, General Secretary of the NPP, Eminent citizens of our country, we welcome all of you.
And now, I respectfully invite the President of the Republic, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to deliver the Message on the State of the Nation.

Hon Members, in accordance with Standing Order 58, I wish to convey to His Excellency the President the gratitude of this honourable House. I seize this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Ghana Armed Forces, the various security agencies and our own internal security for their services which have ensured the smooth success of this function.
Hon Members, again, in accor- dance with our practice, a formal communication would be sent to His Excellency the President after the House has debated this Message. The full debate on the Message would commence at a time to be determined by the Business Committee.
Hon Majority Leader, if I may ask for any indication at this time?

Mr Speaker, we have listened to the President of the Republic. As usual, you may want to hear from the Hon Minority Leader before I give any indication as to what to do next. We are together in this enterprise.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon Minority Leader?

Mr Speaker, I see Motion numbered 4 on the Order Paper and it is my expectation that the Hon Majority Leader would have moved that Motion but it is not out of place that I do it.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House thanks His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the Nation.
Mr Speaker, as you have rightly pointed out, we would do so but I wish to remind the President that Parliament is not almost in the Eighth Parliament. We are certain that if Techiman is added, we would have the majority.
Mr Speaker, we leave our fractured democracy in your hands. Conspicuously lost in the speech is the loss of lives in Techiman and other parts of Ghana. We have an economy which is hugely debt-driven. We have a bag of corn selling for GH¢200 in Tamale, yet the economy and Ghana is doing well.
We would thank the President for serving Ghana well. I would not open the debate today but remind the President that peace must be predicated on fairness and justice.
I thank you.

Hon Minority Leader, did I respectfully hear you seconding a Motion for adjournment?
Hon Majority Leader, if I may have a clear indication of a motion for adjournment?

Mr Speaker, as has been advertised on the Order Paper, what we are required to do is to move a Motion and the Motion is to be moved by the Majority Leader and seconded by the Minority Leader.
Mr Speaker, what I raised by way of preliminary observation is that if there are any indications, the Minority

Hon Minority Leader, please?

Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and to remind the House that Ghanaians voted for “no” to excessive partisanship; “no” to the divisive politics of our country and for shared opportunities for the good of Ghanaians.

Hon Members, the Motion to congratulate His Excellency the President for his brilliant address to us here this morning is moved by the Hon Majority Leader and seconded by the Hon Minority Leader.
Question put and Motion agreed to.

Hon Majority Leader, any further indication at this time?

Mr Speaker, having listened to the President of the Republic, as usual, as dictated by conventions and practices of this House, Mr Speaker, you may adjourn proceedings for the day.
I thank you.

Mr Speaker, we are in your good hands.
Thank you.
Question put and Motion agreed to.

Hon Members, I shall now process out with the President, the Vice President, and the Leadership of the House to the Lobby for the President and the Vice President to sign the distinguished Visitors' Book, after which we would return through the Chamber to the Speaker's Lobby for a brief interaction.
Meanwhile, Hon Members and our invited guests are entreated to kindly remain by their seats during the process. His Lordship, the Chief Justice would also process out of the Chamber in the company of the Justices of the superior courts of adjudicator before joining us to sign the distinguished Visitors' Book.
Thank you.