Parliament to approve setting up of 'US Military base' in Ghana today

There have been speculations in the past about moves towards the establishment of a United States Military base in Ghana for the operations of United States Forces. It has always turned out to be false.

MYNEWSGH.com, however, can authoritatively confirm that pending parliamentary approval today and barring any last minute change of plans, the United States Military will have a base in Ghana, granted by express permission of the government of Ghana, from documents we have intercepted, including the agreement between the two governments.

One of the pristine documents we have intercepted titled “Defence Co-operation, the Status of United States Forces, and Access to and use of Agreed Facilities and Areas in the Republic of Ghana” is expected to be signed by the United States Department of Defence (DoD) and the government of Ghana represented by the Minister of Defence Dominic Nitiwul, when Parliament finally approves it today, Tuesday March 20, 2018.

The Minister of Defense, Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, in a memo dated 14th March 2018 sent to parliament tagged ‘secret’ for parliamentary approval of the agreement said:

“The Agreement, when ratified by Parliament, is intended to contribute to enhanced security co- operation between the USA and Ghana, based on full respect for the sovereignty of each other. It will also reaffirm in their shared commitment to peace and stability and ensure common opportunities to addressing regional defence and security issues.”

In secret memo reveal there was an “Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement” between the Government of the United States of America, represented by the United States Department of Defence and the Government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration signed in Stuttgart on April 13 and entered into force as back as April 28, 2015.

This Acquisition and Cross- Servicing Agreement served as an initial step for enhanced partnership and security co-operation between Ghana and the USA.

Justifying the need for US Military presence in Ghana, Defence Minister Mr Nitiwul wrote:

“The approval of this Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Ghana on Defence Co-operation, the Status of United States Forces, and Access to and use of Agreed Facilities and Areas in the Republic of Ghana by Cabinet and its subsequent ratification by Parliament will go a long way to ensure access to and use of agreed facilities and areas by US forces within Ghana.”

He said it was in the interest of Ghana and that the agreement will “ensure that the two countries co-operate more in the area of exchange of information and the conduct of joint operations to combat the threat of terrorism and other challenges in the West African region”.

“This Draft Agreement was variously reviewed by the Attorney General’s (AG’s) Department. Other State Agencies, namely; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MOF ARI), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Attorney-General’s Department, Ministry of the Interior (Mal), National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), made inputs into the Graft Agreement in order to ensure that it reflected the true interest of the country, during its preparation.” He added.

On the cost to Ghana,”largely, the financial implications for Ghana as far as this Agreement is concerned has to do with the exemptions from the payment of taxes to be accorded US personnel under it (the Agreement). This however, is within the ambit of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, which will act in the interest of the country.

Ghanaians have been generally sceptical about such moves and have in the past raised public concerns when it had come up for discussion as the United States government made more inroads on the African continent building security collaborations with cooperative African leaders.

MYNEWSGH.com also has in its possession the top secret agreement between the Ghana government and the United States Department of Defense.