Defence Deal: Christian Council too quiet – NDC MP

Ahmed Ibrahim, Member of Parliament for Banda, has called on the Christian Council, the Muslim Council and the Ghana Pentecostal Council, to comment on the military agreement signed between the governments of the United States of America (USA) and Ghana, which has been approved by Ghana’s parliament.

According to him, the deal is a bad one, therefore, these religious groups should break their silence and speak against it.

Parliament approved the military agreement on Friday, 23 March.

Speaker Professor Mike Oquaye said after the approval that the "house adopts the report from the joint committee on defence and interior.”

The approval of the agreement was done by only the majority side of parliament with the minority staging a walkout.

As part of the agreement, the United States (US) government will be spending $20 million in training and supplying equipment for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the US Embassy in Ghana, has said.

It also indicated that Ghana has also agreed to bear the cost and take primary responsibility for securing US military facilities in the country.

According to the contract, Ghana has granted US contractors tax exemption. Sources say the negotiation started in 2017.

Speaking on this matter on Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Tuesday, 27 March, Mr Ibrahim said: “This deal is like the Bond of 1844 when our traditional leaders sold us to the colonial masters, it is a bad deal.”



He added: “The Ghana Christian Council, Ghana Pentecostal Council and Ghana Muslim Council should pick the 2018 report and read it line by line, clause by clause and then make their findings public. They have been too quiet.”