Dignitaries at President Akufo-Addo’s last SONA

By Iddi Yire

Accra, Jan 03, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday, January 3, delivered his last Message of the State of Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament.

Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution states that, “The President shall, at the beginning of each session of Parliament and before a dissolution of Parliament, deliver to Parliament a message on the State of Nation to Parliament”.

The President, who was accompanied by his wife, Rebecca, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his spouse, Samira, was received into the Chamber of the House jointly by Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business and Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minority Leader.

In attendance was Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo and her spouse, Mr Francis Torkornoo, other Justices of the Supreme Court.

Other dignitaries at the event include Speaker Bagbin’s wife, Madam Alice Adjoa Yornas, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

The rest are Mr Sam Okudzeto, a Member of the Council of State, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Madam Mercy Yvonne Debrah-Karikari, the Secretary to Cabinet, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces and other service chiefs; members of the diplomatic community in Ghana, traditional and religious leaders.

GNA