Member of Parliament for Sekondi Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer has denied reports that the Government of Ghana has entered into an agreement with the United States Government to set up a US military base in Accra.
According to him, the agreement between the two countries approved by cabinet is replacing an already existing agreement that came into force in 1997 and does not capture the setup of a US military base in Ghana.
On Tuesday news emerged that Ghana’s Cabinet has approved an agreement granting access to the United States of America to establish a military base in Ghana. It also indicated that Ghana has also agreed to bear the cost and take primary responsibility for securing U.S. military facilities in the country.
According to the contract, Ghana has also granted U.S contractors tax exemption. According to sources, the negotiation started in 2017 but was approved on Thursday, 8 March 2018.
However, Mr Mercer stated while speaking on Kokrokoo on Peace FM on Tuesday March 20, that the agreement does not contain the setup of a military base in Ghana.
“If you look at the purpose and scope of the agreement and all the articles that specifically deals with the rights and obligations of both parties in there, It says United States forces may undertake the following type of activities in Ghana: Training, transit, support and related activities, refueling of air crafts, landing, recovery of aircraft, accommodation of personnel, communication, staging and employing of materials, exercise, humanitarian and other activities as mutually agreed.”
He added: “This agreement tells you that there is an existing agreement Ghana signed with the United States government and we are enhancing it by replacing it with this one.
“This agreement upon its entry into force shall supersede the agreement between the United States and Ghana regarding the status of United states military and civilian employees of the United States Department of Defence, temporarily present in Ghana in connection with the African crisis response initiative and other activities effected by an exchange of note in Accra dated November 24 1997 and entered into force on February 24 1998.
“This agreement is only replacing existing agreement Ghana signed with the United States of America all the way in 1997/8. Yet the impression is being created that this government is helping America to set up a military base in Ghana. American military presence in this country has been here since 1997 so what is the issue?
“We are not establishing a military base in Ghana, there is no mention of military base in this agreement.”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
