A scene of hysterical security checks unfolded in Parliament today shortly before President Akufo Addo was ushered into the Parliamentary Chamber for the State of the Nation’s Address (SONA), as security officers unleashed sniffer dogs to sniff out potential explosives around the seat of the President.
Contrary to usual security protocols where reconnaissance would have been done before the venue was filled with spectators, the military and national security officials decided to conduct their security checks at the full glare of all present, including diplomats.
This has sparked off speculations that the security apparatus around President Akufo may have sensed something sinister. These speculations are not farfetched given the fact that the Jubilee House recently claimed a group of people were planning to overthrow the President in the botched “Kitchen Knife Coup”.
In addition to the sniffer dog scene, the scene at Parliament was particularly tight with security operatives. Personnel from the various security services in the country have been deployed at various points in parliament to ensure law and order.
Incidentally, no major security threat was detected at the Chamber of Parliament, except the dramatic walkout of the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) members of Parliament.
They claim their unceremonious exit from Parliament was in protest of the “totalitarian” regime of President Akufo Addo.
Meanwhile,
the SONA is an annual event which is in accordance with Article 67 of the 1992
Constitution of Ghana which states: “The President shall, at the beginning of
each session of Parliament and before the dissolution of Parliament, deliver a
message on the state of the nation.”
The President who is facing serious backlash, spoke on several topics including
the thorny illegal mining menace, the falling cedi, security corruption,
education was spoken about by the President.