The Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, has announced that Parliament will be implementing intensified security measures on Thursday, February 27, 2025, during President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation Address, (SONA).
The decision follows revelations made by Hon. Felix Ofosu Kwakye, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, ahead of the much-anticipated address. The SONA, mandated by Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, will provide a candid assessment of Ghana’s economic realities and outline the current administration’s national development strategy.
In light of this, Members of Parliament are required to be seated in the chamber by 9:15 am, as access will be restricted by National Security after the President’s arrival. Hon. Mahama Ayariga made this known during the presentation of the Business Statement for the ensuing week.
Additionally, MPs will not be permitted to enter the chamber with unauthorized persons. Only deputy speakers and the two leaders will have access to the Speaker’s lobby, while access to the area in front of the Speaker’s lobby will be limited.
During the address, the Majority leader noted that doors on the Majority side of the chamber will be locked, meaning MPs must exit through the Minority side or the division room.
In his words, “Members are expected to be seated in the chamber at 9: 15 am, this is because once the Excellency enters the chamber, National Security will not allow any member access into the chamber. When the National Security takes over no member will be allowed access, so after 9:15, it will be difficult for anyone to access the chamber, Honorable members are not entering the chamber with a stranger.
“Only the deputy speakers and the two leaders will have access to the speaker’s lobby. There will be limited access to the area in front of the speaker’s lobby. During the address, the doors into the chamber from the Majority side will be locked. Hence all Honourable members will be required to exit the chamber from the minority side or exist in the division room.” he cautioned.
The State of the Nation address (sometimes abbreviated to SONA) is an annual address to Parliament given by the President of the republic of Ghana covering economic, social, and financial state of the country according to Article 67 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana.
The state of the nation address was first implemented under the administration of former President John Kufuor. Records show that in 18 years at the helm of Ghana, President Jerry John Rawlings did not deliver a State of the Nation address contrary to the provisions of the national constitution. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, was the first president to deliver the state of the nation address in Ghana hence sticking rigidly to the letter of the constitution, which says the president should give a State of the Nation address at the beginning and close of every parliamentary session. Since then the state of the nation has been in existence and ongoing.
