All West African countries have defence agreements – Deputy Defense Minister

The Deputy Minister for Defense, Major (retd) Derrick Oduro has explained that Ghana is not the only country that has signed a defense agreement with another country.

The Deputy Minister claimed all the West African countries have signed an agreement with either Japan, America, Germany, France and other countries for their mutual benefit.

Major (retd) Oduro said these while contributing into the debate on the ratification of the Ghana-US defense cooperation agreement.

Parliament on March 23 ratified the controversial agreement that would grant US military personnel, defense contractors and agents among other executive officials unrestricted access to Ghanaian facilities for military and humanitarian purposes, a situation many fear will compromise the sovereignty of the country.

The Deputy Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region told Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa hosted by Bright Kwasi Asempa on Thursday that “it is a cooperation because we do military exercise together. When we are in need of military or security they can help”.

He said “several Ghanaian soldiers have been trained in Ghana and UK due to such an agreement”.

Maj. Oduro who spoke to Yen Nsempa from Ukraine stated “the existing agreement expired in 2015 so there is the need to review it but the NDC has made it to look as if we have sold our country to foreigners”.



Asked when the current agreement will end, the Deputy Defense Minister said government will review it or terminate if the time comes for Ghana to review it.

“If it demands that we terminate the agreement we shall terminate it”, he added.

The NDC minority has also argued that per the agreement, the US army would drive their vehicles in Ghana without certification by the Driver Vehicle License Authority (DVLA), something they fear will pose danger on our roads.

In reaction, the former army major said “when we go for operations in Congo, Liberia and other places, Ghanaian army drivers drive our own vehicles because what time do they have to test the drivers who have been trained here in Ghana”.