President Kufuor to give account before Parliament on Monday

Accra, Jan. 2, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor is expected in Parliament on Monday to give account of his four-year stewardship as President of Ghana.

Mr Jones Kugblenu, Director of the Public Affairs of Parliament, told the GNA that the President would present his last message before the House because at the beginning of his term he had appeared before the Legislature to give a State of the Nation Address. On preparations to usher in the Fifth Parliament on January 7, he said Parliament was yet to be furnished with certified results of the parliamentary elections from the Electoral Commission (EC). He said this would inform the Parliamentary Service of which

political party holds the majority of seats. On which party would provide the Majority Leader to run the business of the House, he said the Standing Orders of the Parliament indicated that the party or parties with the majority of seats would elect the Majority Leader. With results from 228 constituencies declared so far, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has 114 seats; New Patriotic Party (NPP) has 107; People's National Convention (PNC) has two seats, Convention People's Party, one seat, with four Independent Candidates. The Asutifi South and Akwatia seats are yet to be declared. Meanwhile, Parliament reconvened on Friday after a break for the general election held on December 7 2008.

Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, Speaker, welcomed members and the House immediately went into a closed sitting to discuss pertinent matters. This session would last until Tuesday, January 6, and at the stroke of midnight it goes into dissolution to make way for the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic on January 7 2009.