President Nana Akufo-Addo has been advised to soften his stance on the US military co-operation agreement, in order to meet his critics halfway.
Prof. Baffour Agyeman Duah, a former UN Senior Governance Advisor, told TV3 there is room for the agreement to be made better in the interest of Ghana.
“I think the president certainly feel very strongly about what he has done, just like those who are opposed to this agreement feel very strongly about their position. So I think it is about time for some kind of dialogue,” he observed.
Prof. Agyeman Duah is therefore asking President Akufo-Addo, as the leader, to take the lead in engaging those opposed to the agreement, which was ratified by Parliament on March 23.
“In diplomacy or conflict resolution, we have what we called face-saving device; the president cannot step down, it would be suicidal for him to step down.
“Just as perhaps those who are opposed to him cannot step down, so there must be a face-saving device that will help the two sides to come to a certain level of consensus, to let this thing work,” he advised.
President Akufo-Addo was so passionate when he addressed the nation on the defence agreement with the US, taking things personal to the doorstep of his political opponents.
Some Ghanaians felt the president’s anger drowned the essence of his message, which Prof. Agyeman Duah concurred.
He noted that it was “regrettable” that the purpose of the message to educate Ghanaians on the agreement were missed to some extent due to his demeanor.
He was however convinced that Ghana’s sovereignty has not been sold out by the agreement, in its current form.
But he pointed out that external powers – multinational companies, the developed world – will also want to shortchange the less privileged, the onus is therefore on Ghana to sharpen its negotiation skills.
Meanwhile, the inter party coalition for national sovereignty, a group of opposition parties has vowed to oppose the Ghana-US military cooperation agreement despite the president’s assurance that the deal does not seek to establish a military base in Ghana
Source: 3news.com
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People, Those opposing are not the only citizens in Ghana. Whilst the NDC are making noise for mischievous purposes. Well meaning Ghanaians are quite observing as we are happy and agree with what the President has done so far. So, I will advise the Prof. to keep quite as he knows better than this. Nana Addo is the President elected by the majority and must stand by strong decisions, else he cannot govern because as soon as he gives in to NDC'S point of view then he has lost the leadership and the majority that voted for him will also get offended. We must bare in mind a leader cannot please all. As I've been offended for our security agencies to take it soft of Ayidaho after making such statement against our democracy. People, do you think we were happy during Atta Mills/Mahama reign? But because they were in change we kept quite and endured it. That is the beauty of democracy. Ekow, Cape Coast
Diplomacy has its limits. There is nothing diplomatic about this issue. These guys have nothing to offer. They have decided to be unreasonable so let them continue with that stance. Meanwhile the President has no intention of stepping down. The best for Ghana is to continue with the deal. Was it not their government which was reducing peace keeping allowances to the military? If this government is giving them what they deserve and in addition this deal will advance their professional capability, then this government should endorse the parliamentary approval. Why should the government think of negotiating with someone who has decided not to reason?
My friend tell Ghanaians what us wrong and it's not in the interest of Ghanaians in the agreement don't speak in ambiguity tone tell us what is wrong and what needs to be changed or you are behaving like Ndc that want to rubbish the entire agreement. Tell us how was the relationship between Ghana and U.S. during the time of PNDC/NDC or nothing of the sort happened. But if some relationship happened why can't you and Ndc advice Government to stay with the old one Ndc is worried because of their coup d etat agenda