President Akufo-Addo will present the state of the nation next week

General News of Saturday, February 16, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-02-16

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will present the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

The declaration entitled "Message from the State of the Nation" (SONA) is consistent with Article 67 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution which states: "The President shall, at the beginning of each session of Parliament and before its dissolution, deliver a message about the state of the nation. "

The delivery would be the third of the new Patriotic Party (NPP) in power, since it has regained the power to run the country.

The message on the state of the nation should focus on the performance of the economy, agriculture, social protection and politics; and also to inform Ghanaians of the measures the government was adopting to deal with national security and Ghana's relations with the international community.

The announcement of the President's handover of SONA on Thursday was made in Parliament by Mr. Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, Chief Whip of the Majority, on behalf of Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, in the Business Statement for the week ending Friday, February 22, 2018 on Friday.

According to Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, ministers are expected to come to the House to answer 13 questions during the week; featuring questions on ministries of communication, trade and industry, food and agriculture and roads and highways.

Among the questions the Minister of Trade and Industry will have to answer is whether the Ministry will implement the Ghana International Trade Commission, which is responsible for neutralizing cheap imports.

The Minister of Trade and Industry would tell the House what the department was doing to ensure that manufacturers of plastic products produce recyclable materials; what are the plans of the Government of Ghana to relaunch Saltpond Ceramic and what steps have been taken to reorganize the Ayensu starch factory.

On the agriculture front, the House would ask the sector minister, among other things, for the results of the government's flagship program, "Plant for Food and Create Jobs"; and the specified locations of the 311 facilities reserved for the "one district, one dam" program.

The House would also like the minister to know what measures the department is putting in place to support the poultry industry.

According to the Business Statement, state ministers may also be allowed to make statements on government policy, as bills may also be introduced in the House at first reading.

"However, those who are urgent in nature can go through the different stages in one day …", said Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

Bills, documents and reports can be presented to the House, motions can be debated, and any resolutions that may be made during the week.