President John Mills has apologised for what critics say was a deliberate snub of protocol, particularly, ex-president John Kufuor and Chief Justice Georgina Wood during his third state of the nations address in Parliament on Thursday. The president failed to acknowledge the presence of the two high profile dignitaries in the house before proceeding with his address. His slip was retaliated with equal breach of protocol by the minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, who failed to walk the president out of the chamber, as is required by Parliamentary convention. Mensah-Bonsu told Joy News’ Parliamentary correspondent Sammy Darko their initial impression was that the president deliberately ignored the ex-president and the Chief Justice (CJ) He said given innuendos made by the president against the CJ and the president in his address he was under the impression that it was a deliberate agenda by the president to run them down. Asked if his decision not to escort the president out of the chamber was vengeance against the president, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu stated: “By the fruit that he (Mills) borne it will be unmeritorious to [escort him] out” he stated. But the President has since apologised for his slip. He told the presidential press corps his failure to acknowledge ex-president Kufuor and the CJ was not intentional. He has vowed to follow protocol during his next state of the nation’s address to Parliament next year. President John Mills was equally disappointed with the Minority leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu for not escorting him out of the chamber. He said rules and protocols must be abided by irrespective of which personality is involved, saying he will not be happy if the minority leader of his party fails to escort the president of an NPP government out of the chamber of Parliament in an event of an NPP government in power. The Minority leader in his subsequent interview with Joy News said he would perhaps not have reacted the way he did if the president’s apology had come early on. He would however not concede that his action was harsh and hasty, saying if he had not resorted to those mechanism the president might not even have realised the severity of his slip. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana