Parliament Resumes Sitting

THE Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, will perform the official opening of the Second Session of the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic at Parliament, State House at 10 a.m. today.

The event will be preceded by an inspection of a guard of honour by the Speaker and will be attended by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, members of the diplomatic corps, ministers of state, top government officials, traditional rulers, opinion leaders and a cross section of the public.The President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor would deliver the State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Thursday, January 31. This is a departure from the previous practice where the President opens Parliament since Mr Adjetey insisted that the President had no business in opening the legislature constitutionally and that the Executive was only expected to deliver The State of the Nation Address.

The meeting, which would end on March 28, would sit for eleven weeks. Sources close to the Speaker’s office said that the 2002 edition of the Annual Public Forum on Parliament will come off at the National Theatre on Friday, Janaury 18, at 10 a.m. It will be under the theme : Democratic Governance under the 1992 Constitution — Challenges and Prospects”.

The source said on Saturday, January 19, there will be a drama presentation by the Abibigroma Drama Group of the University of Ghana, Legon at the National Theatre at 6.30 p.m.

It said on Sunday a non-denominational thanksgiving church service will take place at the Banquet Hall, at 10 a.m. to be officiated by Rev Dr Mensa Otabil, Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church; Rt Rev Dr Asante-Antwi, President of the Methodist Conference; Rev Augustine Annor Yeboah, acting Chairman of the Christ Apostolic Church; Rt Rev Dr Justice Offei-Akrofi, President of the Anglican Bishops Conference; Apostle Michael Ntumy, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost; Rev Dr Sam Prempeh, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana; and Rev Father Stephen Adu-Kwaning of the Catholic Church.