Ghana’s parliament has voted to approve a deal that would grant the United States of America “unimpeded” access to deploy its troops and military equipment in the West African nation.
Friday’s vote was boycotted by the opposition party meaning the approval was granted solely by MPs from the ruling party.
Under the agreement the US government would also have unrestricted access to facilities and enjoy tax exemptions on those facilities.
The document about the deal revealed that officers serving with the US Military would “possess and carry arms in Ghana, while on duty if authorized to do so, by their orders, such authorization being made in consultation with the appropriate authorities of Ghana. Military personnel may wear their uniforms while performing official duties.”
Other aspects of the document reads that “United States Contractors shall not be liable to pay tax or similar charge assess within Ghana in connection with this agreement”.
The United States is to in return invest around $20 million in training and equipment for the Ghanaian military as well as joint exercises.
Ghana’s minority leader in parliament, Haruna Iddrisu had said that minority MPs “will not be part of the process to endorse this deal in its current form because it is not in our national interest”.
There has been anger among Ghanaians over the deal with several security analysts advising the government not to approve the deal. Some civil society groups say the agreement amounts to surrendering the country’s sovereignty.
The government has defended the deal saying it has not surrendered the sovereignty of Ghana.
Source: Africafeeds.com
