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The Minister for Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga says President John Dramani Mahama�s trip to South Africa to officially open the 2nd Ordinary Session of the 3rd Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand on Monday is a great honour to the country. He stated the President�s trip will bring fortunes to the nation. President John Mahama is in South Africa to open the session as the Special Guest of Honour and will address the Pan-African Parliament on the occasion. The House will begin sitting weeks away from the gathering of Heads of State and Governments in Addis Ababa for the 50th anniversary of the African Union. According to the Information Minister, the official opening by President Mahama will create a platform for Ghana�s image to be projected on the map and also build consensus among African states to enhance the socio-economic progress of the continent. He described the invitation as a recognition of the role of President Mahama in the African continent. He was hopeful the gathering will discuss issues affecting the continent with the aim of uniting Africa and safeguarding the rights of people in the continent. He said, in an interview with Radio Gold, that the invitation to President Mahama to play a significant role in the 3rd Parliament of the PAP is a �real honour and privilege...So, it is a very important occasion. It is a real privilege. It is an honour to Ghana and the Ghanaian leader, and so His Excellency will be there to open a session of the Pan African Parliament. And that basically is the assignment.� President Mahama�s involvement in the PAP this year will be the second time he will be joining his former colleagues to open their annual session. According to a statement signed by Mahama Ayariga, the first was in 2009 when he (President Mahama) was Vice President. He, in the company of the Majority Leader in Parliament and Minister in charge of Government Business in Parliament, Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor, is expected home on Monday, May 6, 2013.