PARLIAMENT BUILDING: MEMBERS: DR. BUSIA: DR. DE-GRAFT JOHNSON: COMMISSIONER ISIFU ALI: MEMBERS SWORN IN: BALLOTING: SPEAKER SWORN IN.




Initials PK/VS/JH



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Background: THE GHANAIAN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, WHICH WILL DECIDE THE COUNTRY'S SECOND CONSTITUTION SINCE INDEPENDENCE IN 1957, HAS MET IN ACCRA FOR THE FIRST TIME TO ELECT A SPEAKER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER. THE FORMAL CEREMONY, HELD ON MONDAY (30 DECEMBER) MARKED THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT STAGE IN THE RESTORATION OF CIVILIAN RULE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNING NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL'S PROGRAMME.

THE 150 MEMBER ASSEMBLY ELECTED MR. R.S. BLAY, A FORMER APPEAL COURT JUDGE, AS SPEAKER AND NENE AZU MATE-KOLE, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EASTERN HOUSE OF CHIEFS, AS HIS DEPUTY.

THE ASSEMBLY, MADE UP OF 136 ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS AND 14 OTHERS NOMINATED BY THE NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL, WAS ESTABLISHED LAST MONTH UNDER AN EDICT. AMONG ITS MEMBERS IS DR. K.A. BUSIA, FORMER LEADER OF THE UNITED PARTY WHICH OPPOSED THE CONVENTION PEOPLE'S PARTY OF FORMER PRESIDENT DR. KWAME NKRUMAH.

THE NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL HAS RULED THE COUNTRY SINCE DR. NKRUMAH WAS OVERTHROWN TWO YEARS AGO. IT IS MADE UP OF SENIOR POLICE AND ARMY OFFICERS, AND IS HEADED BY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JOSEPH ANKRAH, WHO HAS AFFIRMED HIS INTENTION OF RETURNING THE COUNTRY TO CIVILIAN RULE BY 30 SEPTEMBER, 1969.

THE ASSEMBLY, WHOSE MEMBERS TOOK AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE AT THE MEETING, WILL BEGIN DISCUSSION OF A DRAFT CONSTITUTION NEXT MONDAY (6 JANUARY).