The Editor in Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper Malik Kweku Baako Jnr has intercepted a letter, part of which suggests ex-president John Mahama gave approval for Ghana to be used as base for a US military operation that will protect “US citizens and facilities in the sub-region.”
The letter dated February 12, 2015 and signed by Hannah Nyarko for the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister made copious references to the agreement reached between the ex-president and the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Miss Bisa Williams at the Flagstaff House on 4 September 2014.
Based on that agreement, the US government wrote a diplomatic note dated February 5, 2015, a copy of which was attached to the February 12 letter, in which the US government sought approval from their Ghanaian counterparts to use “Ghana’s territory and airspace” for the operation.
“The operations involved the deployment of 200 US marine forces, Africa personnel, 4 MV 22 Osprey and 2 C130 Hercules aircraft. The deployment was scheduled to begin on 10 February 2015 and last for approximately 5 weeks if approved,”
Apart from that, the diplomatic note by the US also requested for “clearance for US aircraft to conduct overflights within Ghana’s airspace for the duration of the mission. Permission for the six US aircraft to operate from and be staged on the airforce rump and for the deploying forces to leave and operate out of the US expeditionary reception facility located at the Air force base at the Burma Camp.”
Malik Kweku Baako made these revelations on Newsfile Saturday. He was contributing to the controversial 2018 Ghana-US military agreement which has left Parliament thoroughly divided and the country completely polarized.
The agreement which was ratified by a one-sided Parliament, after the minority walked out had a purpose to “Reaffirming the strong defense relationship between the Parties based on a shared commitment to peace and stability and common approaches to addressing regional defense and security issues.”
It was also to “Reaffirming the recent dialogue between the Presidents of the United States and Ghana on the importance of the bilateral defense relationship; and also “considering that, by arrangement between the United States and Ghana, United States forces may be present in Ghana in pursuit of common defense efforts, as well as to provide support to the security of United States Government personnel and facilities in the region.”
Certain clauses in the agreement have sent a lot of tongues wagging.
For instance Article 5 states that “Ghana hereby provides unimpeded access to and use of agreed facilities and areas to United State forces, United States contractors, and others as mutually agreed.
Still under Article 5, the agreement notes “United States forces are hereby authorized to control entry to agreed facilities and areas that having been provided for exclusive use by United States forces, and to coordinate entry with the authorities of Ghana at agreed facilities and areas provided for joint use by United States force and Ghana, for purposes of safety and security.”
Even though it was not stated in the agreement, it has been reported and confirmed by the US Ambassador to Ghana Robert Jackson that Ghana was given an amount of $20 million as part of the agreement.
Many, including the ex-president John Mahama have since kicked against the agreement. A demonstration has been organized for thousands to vent their anger about the deal the minority insists will sell the security and sovereignty of the country.
“I join in declaring #GhanaFirst as my compatriots and other democratic forces converge to demonstrate their opposition to demonstrate their opposition to the Ghana/US military agreement,” the ex-president said in a tweet.
Some NDC minority members have also been vocal in their rejection of the agreement. On Newsfile, MP for Tamale Central Inusah Fuseini said the agreement was a sellout.
According to him Ghana will effectively become a satellite state to the US if the agreement comes into force.
Some ordinary Ghanaians have also kicked against the deal even though some have also thrown their weight behind it.
Speaking on Newsfile, Malik Baako said he has no problem if ordinary Ghanaians some of whom may not have the benefit of the full information kick against the agreement.
But he is scandalized by the position taken by the Minority especially when it signed similar agreements with the US in government.
Apart from the 5 week US military operation, the then Foreign Minister Hannah Tetteh also signed a separate agreement with the US government in April 2015 which formed the basis of the enhanced military cooperation agreement in 2018.
Citing portions of the 2015 agreement, the newspaper editor suggested the former government officials are only being hypocritical.
He argued the same facilities the US marines used while in Ghana in 2015 are the same facilities they will use in 2018.
“Ammunition base operation support and construction incident to base operation support. What does that mean? It is not a military base but there are bases in Ghana that they use. Storage services, facilities. We gave them facilities in 2015. Were they US ghosts in those facilities in 2015? he asked with a tinge of sarcasm.
Kweku Baako called for fairness in the discussion of an issue he said could have repercussion on Ghana’s international relations.
Source: Daily Guide
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
seem this kweku baako is getting old or ma.d, he is not making sense these days. yes we understand your hatred for rawlings but still, your darling boy akufo addo is moving with the rawlings. we know your double stance on mahama and nana, when mahama was prez, hardly could you critic him but now the table has turn, seem mahama is ya enemy. look, enough of you fake and weired books ok, nothing in there only lies and fake stories. is because NDC signed those documents as to why we called them INCOMPETENT and voted for nana so, if incompetent prez signs stupi.d agreement and you ractify it as competent prez, tell me who is stupi.d. no one is saying avoid the US MILITARY but what we saying is, so of the entranched clauses are rediculous. not even the prez can visit their base in the land where nana is the prez and they visitors?, they have runway beside our only kotoka airport. masa, are we still slaves or foo.ls. if you cancel those wicked clauses, no one is against. we expect a competent prez to cancel those of incomppetent prez so see how competent and wise the old man is. soon UK will also come to demand our presidential palace and TOR in the agreement of economic deal. our military deal is gone, economic deal demands are coming in, hahahaha, eiii Ghana, we vote for cheap people papa. mafe prez kufou papap
you are not getting it. it is wrong to ever signed an agreement and to subsequently criticize it when another person behave same.it means that John has an ethical issue. it is not the right or wrong of the nature of the deed. it you saying it is wrong when you did the same thing. Ghanaian soldiers are use to beating men, women and children on the streets and it is time to get a better training.
Hypocrites and vultures of the NDC, empty headed and corruption ridden politicians of the NDC. Your Mahama deceived you guys by signing the pact secretly with the US. He did not send this to parliament. So if you have any qualms checkout with JM. your incompetent former President.Mahama approved of the ***barred word*** clauses in 2015.
Hypocrites open your eyes.. Military deals are just like having an embassy in another country.. The host nation can't just troop in and conduct searches or ask for revenue. Did we really go to school or we just don't follow international affairs..???
Ghanaians will now see the hypocrisy of John Ford and his NDC . They shameless1y led a crusade base on 1ies and propaganda.
Masa, you forgotten that your minister said that we should disregard any leaked document, have you forgotten?
It is good for AA to sign. It is a good deal for Ghana. JM should not have signed it under the cover of darkness. Apart from that, he did good by signing it.
Baako, we don't care about what Mahama signed, will that benefit Ghana? stop this kind of old journalism.keep on disturbing people with passed events.
A party won massively and their supporters support a deal. Another party lost massively and their supporters opposed a deal.the loser party supporters comes out to say majority of Ghanaians opose the deal.where did they get the majority to force the ruling party to accept their point.some one should help me
Mistakes repeated is foolishness.