US Defence deal attracting terrorism – Asiedu Nketiah

General Secretary of the main opposition NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has taken a swipe at the Akufo-Addo government, accusing it of making a big mistake of entering into the controversial Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US military in 2017.

Government entered into a Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US military in 2017, but the NDC claimed that the Akufo-Addo administration had entered into an agreement with the US for the establishment of a US military base in the country.

The NDC indicated that Ghana could become a target for extremists if the agreement with the US was ratified.

The party’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, at a news conference in Accra, a year ago explained that the agreement would send wrong signals which could subsequently make Ghana vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

That was in spite of the fact that the NDC ‘secretly’ reached similar agreements in 1998 and 2015.

Commenting on the worsening security situation in the country, Mr Asiedu Nketiah told kasapa 102.5 FM that its regrettable that the NPP government didn’t heed to his advice that the country was likely to be on the radar of terrorists and insurgency attacks following the agreement.

“I told you that if we allow the US to establish a military base here, it’ll be an open invitation for terrorists attacks in the country. Secondly, Bryan Acheampong who was with the US Army went to Afghanistan to destroy the country and so he’s been on the target list of the Afghanistans. How then do you appoint such a person as a Minister? They didn’t listen to my advice then, and now we are not at peace because of these things. If you doubt it, ask yourself who has the country wronged to the extent of attracting terrorists into the country? All the security alert and warnings from the UK, Canada and the rest to its nationals should tell you something,” he told host Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM.

Moreover, he said the country is a fertile ground for extremists because of the idle vigilante boys, who are likely to be used by terrorists to unleash attacks on the country.

“We must be proactive and act fast to forestall any chaotic situation,” Mr. Asiedu Nketiah popularly known as General Mosquito told Kasapa 102.5 FM.

The UK government has warned its citizens in Ghana to be wary of the kidnappings and terrorist attacks in the country.

The warning about kidnappings comes on the heels of a recent kidnapping of two Canadian citizens.

Terrorist groups associated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS, which are operating in parts of North Africa and now in the Sahel, are likely to lead the charge on the country, reports say.

Groups associated with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Islamic State of Libya and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) constitute a thorn in the side of governments in the sub-region, which struggle to secure their porous borders.

Burkina Faso and Mali are currently engaged in fierce battles with the terrorists, resulting in the loss of several lives already.

Suspected Terrorists

Two suspected terrorists are believed to have been conveyed to Accra from Hamile in the Upper West Region after they were arrested at different times through the vigilance of two residents.

While one of them was arrested when a whistleblower called the police, the other travelled to the country to allegedly buy some alcoholic beverages.

A few months ago, the threat of terrorists in the country was the subject of discussion by security personnel in Accra who stressed the need to retool the military.