Ghanaians are becoming disappointed at the hypocrisy of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the military agreement Ghana has signed with the United States of America (USA), financial analyst Joe Jackson has said.
The NDC and its Minority in Parliament have criticised the deal saying it is not in Ghana’s interest, therefore, should be cancelled.
They subsequently joined a demonstration organised by the Ghana First Patriotic Front against the deal.
Several politicians including the Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah; former Trade Minister Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, former Transport Minister Dzifa Ativor, Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi, among others, marched against the deal.
Former President John Dramamni Mahama also threw his weight behind the demonstration against the deal.
“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.
However, it has been revealed that Mr Mahama gave approval for Ghana to be used as base for a U.S. military operation that was to protect “U.S. citizens and facilities in the sub-region” during his tenure of office.
The revelation was made by Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul-Malik Kweku Baako Jnr. on Multi TV’s news analysis programme Newsfile on Saturday, 31 March.
Mr Baako produced a letter dated 12 February 2015 and signed by Hannah Nyarko for the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, which made copious references to the deal reached between Mr Mahama and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Miss Bisa Williams, at the Flagstaff House on 4 September 2014.
Based on that agreement, the U.S. government wrote a diplomatic note dated 5 February 2015, a copy of which was attached to the 12 February letter, in which the U.S. government sought approval from the Mahama administration to use “Ghana’s territory and airspace” for the operation.
“The operations involved the deployment of 200 U.S. 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 U.S. also requested “clearance for U.S. aircraft to conduct overflights within Ghana’s airspace for the duration of the mission. Permission for the six U.S. aircraft to operate from and be staged on the airforce rump and for the deploying forces to leave and operate out of the U.S. expeditionary reception facility located at the Airforce base at the Burma Camp.”
Commenting on the revelation on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) hosted by Moro Awudu on Class91.3FM on Tuesday, 3 April, Mr Jackson said: “I haven’t seen the leaked document but I must say, once again that the public, as Ghanaians, we are disappointed that this whole thing is being politicised.”
He added: “We are disappointed at the seeming hypocrisy of the NDC in opposing this issue when they were involved. If the two of them could sit down and handle it in a non-partisan way, truly the country will be better.
“Once again, as a Ghanaian, I feel cheated by my politicians that they are playing games to suit their quest for power instead of addressing issues of my concern.”
Source: ClassFMonline
