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Defence deal good for Ghana's safety – Deputy Information Minister

Dokua Ama Skdls Nana Ama Dokua is a Deputy Minister of Information

Tue, 27 Mar 2018 Source: classfmonline.com

There is no cause to fear over the military agreement that Ghana has signed with the United States of America (USA), Nana Ama Dokua, a Deputy Minister of Information, has said.

According to her, the deal is good for Ghana and does not expose the country to any terrorists’ attacks.

Parliament on Friday, 23 March approved the military agreement.

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.

However, a section of the Ghanaian public believe that the deal is bad for Ghana and has threatened the security of the country.

For instance, Ahmed Ibrahim, Member of Parliament for Banda called on the Christian Council, the Muslim Council and the Ghana Pentecostal Council, to speak against the deal because in his view, it undermines the sovereignty of Ghana.

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.”

However, Ms Dokua denied that the deal was bad for Ghana and undermines the country’s sovereignty.



“There are a lot of good things in the deal,” she said. “It does not undermine the security of the country, our security is safe.”

“There is a package in there that will help our military.”

Source: classfmonline.com
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