The government of Ghana has come to agreement terms with the United States America which will allow the US to establish a military base in the country.
The agreement is expected to be approved by Parliament today March 20 and it has been stated in the document with the 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.
In a memorandum dated to March 14 by the Minister of Defence Dominic Nitiwul, it is stated that, “The Agreement, when ratified by Parliament, is intended to contribute to enhance 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.”
Touching more on the move, Hon. Nitiwul has stated that, “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 further explained that the agreement will go a long way to benefit the country, adding that it 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.
Another memo has it that there was an “Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement” between the Ghana government represented by the and that of the United States of America in Stuttgart, Germany on April 13 2015 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration United States Department of Defence which served as an initial step for enhanced partnership and security co-operation between the two countries.
The agreement is expected to free Ghana from any financial cost with regards to taxes to be granted to the US representatives and its within the control of the the Parliament of Ghana.
