The Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Ralph Poku-Adusei, has cast doubt on whether President John Dramani Mahama’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) met the constitutional requirements outlined under 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Contributing to the debate on the President’s address in Parliament, the Bekwai lawmaker argued that the three-hour speech failed to reflect what he described as the “true state” of Ghana’s affairs.
“I am unable to understand whether what was delivered by the President is actually consistent with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, there is nothing about it that shows that today is the true state of this nation”, Hon Poku-Adusei stated.
Article 67 of the Constitution mandates the President to deliver a message on the state of the nation to Parliament at the beginning of each session.
However, Mr Poku-Adusei insisted that the address delivered last Friday deviated from that constitutional intent.
According to him, the SONA should not serve as an avenue to repackage campaign promises, rehearse manifesto commitments, or re-echo budget projections.
“A SONA is not an avenue to improve upon your manifesto. It is not an avenue to enhance your 2026 budget statement. It is an avenue to tell Ghanaians the truth,” he emphasized.
The MP said he was left confused as to whether the President’s presentation was a public lecture, a campaign speech, or an extension of the government’s policy proposals.
He urged the President to return to Parliament with what he described as a more honest and factual account of the country’s situation.
“In conclusion, I want to urge the President to come back again and deliver the true state of the nation’s address to the people of Ghana,” he said.
The Bekwa MP’s remarks add to growing Minority criticism that the President’s address lacked candour and failed to confront the everyday economic realities facing citizens.
