State of the Nation address: Minority walks out

The NPP minority walked out on President John Mahama as he prepared to deliver his State of the Nation speech this morning, even though they yesterday announced they would attend.

Undeterred, the president began his much-anticipated speech to cheers and applause.

The minority NPP yesterday, after further deliberations with members of their party and the NEC, announced that they would be present at the president’s address contrary to widely publicised opposition by the party.

The NPP, following a petition at the Supreme Court contesting the results of the December 2012 elections, have boycotted all processes they believe weaken their petition in court, including boycotting the inaugural ceremony of the president, appointments committee sittings and debates in parliament engineered by the president.

Full report on state of the nation address coming soon.