Accra (Greater Accra) 01 February 2002 - On a hazy morning of Thursday, the 31st and last day of January 2002, President John Agyekum Kufuor had his second date with Parliament, telling her the state of the nation and his vision for it.
Power brokers, diplomats and people from all walks of life packed up in the modest but well decorated Parliamentary chamber. Others who could not make it to the hall, sought solace under a shed erected and fitted with giant television screens that monitored the political outing.
Former President John Jerry Rawlings resplendent in a black jacket and flowery necktie had himself and wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings tacked at a visible place.
Some two years ago it was Ex-President Rawlings and wife, who shared the glory while the Kufuors watched from the gallery but today the two couples sat in the same hall with reversed roles.
Six Supreme Court Judges spotting their cloaks and several other politicians booked their seats to witness the occasion. It was a case of people with different ideas congregating for an unknown sermon.
President Kufuor wore his normal countenance as he went through the military rituals of slow march inspecting a guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Ghana Air Force.
He goosed his legs through the three-minute inspection with perfection taking a royal stroll up the stairs of Parliament without prodding. The often-quiet frontage of the House had suddenly become busy with dancers, Journalists and secret agents screening each other for values and vulgarity according to each other's professional needs.
In the midst of the hassle and wrangling, he hurried through the pack of bodies for the task laid up for him. It was a long address, but he hardly blinked neither did he lose his composure.
He called it a five-point vision webbing "Infrastructure Development, Modernised Agriculture Based On Rural Development, Enhanced Social Services, Good Governance And Private Sector Development" to turn round the fortunes of the nation. Humour was his unseen companion as it led him through the date unscathed by the catcalls and occasional heckles from the Minority.
His party men in the House cheered him and occasionally rebuffed comments from the other side. But his confidence grew from strength to strength and Theresa, the woman whose love and patience had seen President Kufuor through the rough paths of politics, sat at a distance smiling to urge him on.
At the end of the speech, the deafening roars of "Fontonfrom and rendition of Atentenben ripped through the chamber providing a perfect and memorable climax to the occasion.
His duty now was to be seated in the golden Presidential chair sandwiched by the Speaker of Parliament Mr Peter Ala Adjetey and Chief Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu and to survey the horizon of the chamber.
There was no wind blowing outside, the birds marvelled at the sudden activation of the old State House Fountains flying low and chirping undertone. A neatly dressed President honoured a date with Parliament with two assets -charm and a good message. Who could pass it?
GRi.../
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