Demonstrators rally around one of the many placards during the demonstration against Ghana–US military deal

Group vows more heat, regional demos against Ghana–US military deal

Isaac Yeboah Politics Apr - 05 - 2018 , 03:15

The Ghana First Patriotic Front (GFPF), the group that led the organisation of last week’s demonstration against the recent Ghana–US military cooperation deal, has vowed to pile up pressure on government to review the deal.

In a statement it issued in Accra Wednesday evening to outline a number of actions it intends to bring pressure to bear on government, the GFPF said it was shocked at the “intransigence and defiance of the Akufo-Addo led government to carry out its plans to permit the establishment of a Permanent Military Base for the United States Armed Forces in Ghana, despite the overwhelming public revulsion against same.”

Government has maintained that the deal does not permit the setting up of a military base by the United States Armed Forces, however the group and other critics say the whole package, approved by Ghana’s parliament on March 23, should be reviewed.

Demos won’t change Ghana-US military pact – Mustapha Hamid

Among other activities, the group says it plans a “Mega Public Forum” on the issue at the University of Ghana Law Faculty Auditorium, come April 11, at 4pm, to be followed by regional versions of the #PutGhanaFirst Demonstration in Accra that registered a huge attendance.

“These demonstrations are aimed at gathering national support against the agreement,” the group said, adding that it “remains resilient and will not countenance any attempt by the government to compromise Ghana's Sovereignty.”

Among speakers lined up for the April 11 forum are:

Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah, Ghana's longest serving Foreign Minister.
Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, Ghana's only two-time Chief of Defence Staff.
Dr. Ken Ahorsu, Senior Research Fellow, Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIAD).
Haruna Iddrisu (MP) Minority Leader in Parliament.
Kwesi Pratt Jnr. Managing Editor, Insight Newspaper.

The statement signed by Messrs Edem Agbana (Convener) and Obeng Agyenim-Boateng (Communications Director) described government’s reactions to criticisms against the Ghana-US military deal as “unconvincing and unpatriotic propaganda in a desperate attempt to shift blame to previous governments.

“Clearly, President Akufo-Addo's unusual silence, the government's desperate attempts at equalization and unending cycle of contradictions on this crucial issue of national sovereignty cannot be countenanced,” it said.