President John Dramani Mahama is in South Africa to officially open the 2nd Ordinary Session of the 3rd Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand on Monday.

Mr. Mahama, a former member of the PAP, is the Special Guest of Honour and will deliver a special address to open the 2nd Ordinary Session.

The House is commencing sitting weeks away from the gathering of Heads of State and Governments in Addis Ababa for the 50th anniversary of the African Union.

The invitation to President Mahama follows a tradition of the PAP to invite prominent African leaders like former South African Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, and former Mozambican leader, Joaquim Chissano to open the House.

A statement signed by the Minister for Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga, said this will be the second time President Mahama will be joining his former colleagues to open their annual session. The first was in 2009, shortly after he became Vice President.

President Mahama is accompanied by the Majority Leader in Parliament and Minister in charge of Government Business in Parliament, Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor. He is expected home on Monday May 06, 2013.