The President has by his address clearly shown the lack of basic understanding of security issues. He is not aware that Peace Missions are under United Nation`s rule and regulations and defaulters are tried and judged by the UN.
The US however has refused to subscribe to International justice system; which is wrong. Indeed he has no clue about the inherent interpretations of some of the clauses of the agreement. His speech is highly misleading and flared with arrogance.
The fact that an agreement was signed in 2015 does not make right an agreement signed in 2018. Besides the 2015 agreement with limitations was purposely to help arrest the effects of the Ebola in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The President has by his address clearly shown the lack of basic understanding of security issues. He is not aware that Peace Missions are under United Nation`s rule and regulations and defaulters are tried and judged by the UN.
The US however has refused to subscribe to International justice system; which is wrong. Indeed he has no clue about the inherent interpretations of some of the clauses of the agreement. His speech is highly misleading and flared with arrogance. The fact that an agreement was signed in 2015 does not make right an agreement signed in 2018. Besides the 2015 agreement with limitations was purposely to help arrest the effects of the Ebola in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Ghanaians criticized the agreement and rejected it, because the agreement lacks specifics and infringes sovereignty. What are these specifics?1. How can we grant the Americans an unimpeded access into Ghana to deploy troops and equipment? What does it mean? a) What is the number strength of the troops? b) Which types of equipment are we expecting? Are we expecting i) Chemical weapons and ii) Radioactive equipment. What will be the effect of environmental left over on the Ghanaian soil and citizens?
2. The Americans will use unimpeded, the radio spectrum of Ghana for free and will be exempted from paying taxes on equipment imported into Ghana. How should US use our radio spectrum for free, when we dare not use theirs even if we have to pay. Why should they be exempted from payment of tax when we cannot balance our budget ?
3. Which contractors are coming to Ghana. Information from countries with agreement with US indicate there are several types of contractors. Which contractors are we dealing with. Are they members of chemical research laboratory? Are they radiation units ? Are they the rape and kill group. Are they contractors that can be asked to undertake secret functions in Ghana?
4. Are we aware that about 60% of our mining companies are in American hands ? Are we aware that our oil exploration is about 70% in the hands of Americans? Are the troops here to protect US investors? The question is, what can the soldiers coming not do if our economy is in the hands of Americans? The Coalition of Democratic Governance (CDG) sees the agreement in its present form as a sell out of our sovereignty and must be renegotiated.
Dr E.K. Hayford Chief Convener
