LECIA lecturer wades into US defence agreement; rubbishes gov’t position

A senior research fellow with the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA) says Ghana’s stable democracy and soft power credentials make it a fertile ground for the US to extend its power and influence across the sub-region.

Dr Ken Ahorsu is alleging the controversial 2018 Ghana-US military cooperation agreement will lead to the setting up of military bases at the Tamale and Kotoka International Airports.

Addressing a forum organised by the Ghana First Patriotic Front, Dr Ahorsu further alleged the Akufo-Addo government approved and ratified the agreement without the involvement of Ghana’s military and officials of the Foreign Affairs.

The Forum is the first official reaction by critics of the agreement following a strongly worded broadcast by the president, Nana Akufo-Addo on the same matter.

The debate about whether the defence agreement between Ghana and US serves the interest of the West African country does not appear to end any time soon.

The president in a recorded broadcast denied allegations the agreement will lead to a military base in the country.

He described the front line politicians in the opposition NDC as being hypocritical in their criticism of the agreement.

But the critics remain unconvinced.

An assembly of critics at the forum by the Ghana First Patriotic Front tore the president’s explanation to shreds insisting the agreement is a bad one.

Dr Ken Ahorsu said portions of the agreement gave away Ghana’s sovereignty for cheap to a super power.

He charged organisers not to relent till the agreement is abrogated. He said the organisers must organise similar fora across the country, appear on radio stations and educate Ghanaians on the implications of the agreement on the country.