The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, has counseled Members of Parliament who lost their seats in the December elections to pack and vacate their offices for their successors.

“I urge all of you non-returning Members to leave these Parliamentary precincts with enthusiasm and hope, and demonstrate same by packing out and vacating your respective offices by the 6th of January, 2017 in order to facilitate a smooth transition for the incoming MPs elected to replace you,” the Speaker said.

“To serve as an example, I have myself as Speaker, already packed and only awaiting the conclusion of our final proceedings so as to vacate the Speaker’s office to enable the incoming Speaker assume his role seamlessly,” Mr. Adjaho said when the sixth Parliament reconvened for its last session.

He added: “It is also my great pleasure to, on behalf of the Leadership and Members of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, extend to His Excellency, the President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, our heartfelt congratulations on his election to the high office of President of the Republic of Ghana.”

Mr. Adjaho also expressed gratitude to outgoing President John Mahama for conceding defeat in the polls.

“President John Dramani Mahama’s acceptance of the election results declared by the Electoral Commission, and his act of personally calling his opponent to concede defeat and to congratulate him, while at the same time appealing to members and supporters of his party to accept the outcome of the elections, is a clear demonstration of his high level of statesmanship, particularly when contrasted with what is happening almost simultaneously with our sister country, the Gambia,” the outgoing Speaker stated.

Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM