President John Mahama is set to address Parliament of Ghana for the last time on Thursday December 22 2016 before the seventh parliament of the fourth republic is sworn in on January 6 2016.
The encounter which will be in fulfilment of Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, will be an account on the state of nation, after serving a four-year term as president. The address is expected to encapsulate details of projects the outgoing government is executing and highlight some of his achievements as president.
His presentation will announce the end of the life of the sixth Parliament of the fourth republic which would officially terminate on the 6th of January 2017.
The sixth parliament is expected to deal with some outstanding issues and bills before it termination or fast forward it to the seventh parliament
Per the standing orders in Parliament, before the seventh Parliament of the fourth Republic commences it business as usual the new Members of Parliament- elect will elect a new Speaker of Parliament, first and second Speakers as well as leaders of the House.
Considering what happens at the begin of every new parliament, the majority in Parliament which will be will be the 170 elected members of the NPP will propose nominees for both Speaker and First Deputy Speaker whereas the minority consisting of 105 elected members of NDC will propose a nominee for the second deputy speaker from the minority caucus.