A former Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah has suggested that there is more to the Ghana-US military deal than has been presented to public.
The well-versed Brigadier General hinted that though government has said a lot to defuse the notion that the US by this deal will be setting up a military base in Ghana, there is much more to the deal which hasn't been exposed.
On Thursday President Akufo-Addo addressed the nation in his first public utterance on the issue in an attempt to clear the air on matters arising from the deal since it was made public.
He dispelled the notion that our sovereignty has been sold by this deal, insisting that Ghana will never allow the US set up a base in the country for as long as he remained president reiterating his commitment to put the interest of the country first at all times.
Despite the President's address, Nunoo-Mensah, clearly dissatisfied with assurances given disclosed that should the agreement go through in its current form, it may change the country's destiny.
"We are living peacefully with our hunger and whatnot, let's resolve that. To bring these people here, I know that it is going to be much more than just what we are being told. The agreement is much more than just they are not going to have a base here. It is more than that and I can see our destiny not being the same" Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah said.
He said Akufo-Addo and his government could have done better negotiating the agreement by doing broader consultations.
He accused the government of rushing it through parliament and sidestepping experienced people like himself who are highly knowledgeable in such matters.
Citing examples from the Middle East and Africa, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah explained that this deal could make or unmake Ghana as such there is no need to rush it through.
"Don't rush this thing. This thing can make or unmake Ghana, I am telling you, can make or unmake Ghana. Look at the Middle East what happened to Iraq, Syria, Lybia they are all in chaos yet we thought people like Saddam Hussein, Gadafi were menace, after they have gone those countries, some of them are finished forever" he stressed
Ghana is expected to benefit about $20 million that will be invested in military training and equipment from the deal but Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah described that as 'funny thing'.
The US he stated are protecting their interest, which is Ghana's oil, with this deal but according to the former Chief of Defense Staff Ghana has nothing to gain as nothing in the agreement represents the interest of the nation.
"We are a small country with our own interest, what I am looking for when I have a mutual agreement like this one, Americans know why they want to come here, for our petroleum. We shouldn't be serving their interest, we should be serving our own interest. So I was looking through the agreement, where will Ghana's interest be served, what's Ghana going to benefit? They say they will give us some $20 million or some funny thing like that" he fumed
The defense cooperation with the US ratified by parliament in March 2018 is an enhanced deal from the 2015 agreement between Ghana and US.
Source: Ghanaweb.com
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an old man like you can't tell the truth. You have become bitter ever since Nana did not give you a job.
fuool grab you passport and get out if the kitchen is hot
You are very $tup1d!! Were u expecting NADAA to use NDC members or Aliens to form his government?? Or u wanted him to use Nigerians or people with different ideologies. Why is the $tup1dity rate rising in Ghana even more than unemployment? Are the likes of Ken Ofori-Atta etc. not Ghanaians & qualified? Is Nana and Bawumia or the Minister of Lands (Amewu) the same blood/linage ? So many mad people in this country, time to wipe all of them off and leave only the right thinking Ghanaians. At least his wife (Rebecca) is building hospitals and not Billboards. Otiko Djaba is feeding people in the North and not fighting them over CHALK!! Fu(k U!
Depending on the context, the term 'military base' may refer to any establishment (usually permanent) that houses a nation's armed forces, or even organized paramilitary forces such as the Police, Constabulary, Militia, or Guards. Alternatively, the term may refer solely to an establishment which is used only by an army (or possibly other land fighting related forces, such as marines) to the exclusion of a base used by either an air force or a navy. This is consistent with the different meanings of the word 'military'. Some examples of permanent military bases used by the navies and air forces of the world are the HMNB Portsmouth in Portsmouth, UK, the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington State, USA, or Ramstein Air Base, Germany (the last two are each designated as a Main Operating Base). Other examples of non- or semi-permanent military bases include a Forward Operating Base (FOB), a Logistics Base (Log base) and a Fire Base (FB). A military base may also contain large concentrations of military supplies in order to support military logistics. Most military bases are restricted to the public and usually only authorized personnel may enter them (be it military personnel or their relatives and authorized civilian personnel). In addition to the main military facilities on a centain installation, military bases usually (but not always) have various different facilties for military personnel. These facilities vary from country to country. Military bases can provide housing for military personnel, a post office and dining facilities (Restaurants). They may also provide support facilities such as fast food restaurants, gas stations, chapels, schools, banks, thrift stores, a hospital or clinic (dental or health clinics, as well as veterinarian clinics), lodging, movie theaters, and retail stores (usually a Supermarket such as Commissary and a Department Store, such as AAFES). Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) provides facilities such as fitness centers, libraries, golf courses, Travel centers, Community service centers, Campgrounds, child development centers, youth centers, automotive workshops, hobby/arts and crafts centers, bowling centers, and community centers.
Better to remain silent and be thought a ***barred word*** than to speak and to remove all doubt
Gen Nunoo-Mensah always amazes me with his illiteracy. I can't imagine how he think? If that is the case then Gen Nunoo-Mensah is telling everybody that the minority is being mischievous and hypocrites as the President said in his speech. The American soldiers have been coming here since independence and they always bring equipment and slept not on trees but in hotels, Bundase, Tamale Bawa barracks and Achiase. Gen Nunoo Mensah should have come out long time than waiting up to this time when the situation is leading some people to topple the government. I have never liked the way Nunoo Mensah comment on general issues. I hope he never was a CDS of our professional Armed Forces. He must load his brain before shooting his mouth
THE LIES: Akufo-Addo promises to run a government that is NOT made of family nor friends. Today, this is what we have in his government. 1. Daughters 2. Cousins 3. Nephews 4. Friends 5. Former work colleagues 6. Business associates 7. Bussinesses of nephews 8. Businesses of cousins 9. Former girlfriends 10. Mothers of children
At least the man says the agreement was rushed through parliament and he is upset about that. What about the other earlier agreements that were never brought to parliament under a government that he served?The ones I pity are the rats who are bussed to demonstrate on an issue they do not comprehend and later rush to the US Embassy at 3 am to queue with stones seeking visas to go to America.
these npp guys claim they read but it appears they only read but dont understand and that's worse off than one who reads little but understands. Akuffo - Addo should be careful with these Americans. These guys can deal with him in a way he will never suspect. And i suspect he is being a puppet, the visit given him by the american ambassador to Ghana when he won the elections has a message, and this is what we are likely to be seeing. SAY NO TO THIS INTOLERANT PRESIDENT.
Come to think of it he was a National Security Adviser when the agreement was signed in 2015. Is he not cynical and hypocrite?