General News of Saturday, 24 March 2018

Source: classfmonline.com

Approval of military deal sad – Akwada

Nana Yaw Akwada Nana Yaw Akwada

Nana Yaw Akwadaa, Executive Secretary of the Bureau of Public Safety, has said parliament’s ratification of the military deal between the governments of the United States of America and Ghana is sad for the country.

According to him, this agreement exposes Ghana to attacks, hence the security agencies in Ghana must lift up their surveillance to forestall any such development.

Parliament has approved the military agreement. Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye said after the approval on Friday March 23 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 but was approved on Thursday, 8 March 2018.

Commenting on this development on TV3’s New Day on Friday 23 March 2018 Mr Akwadaa said: “Beginning tomorrow (Saturday March 24) our security will need to up their game at our borders as far as the safety of Ghana is concerned because of the deal.

“Today is a sad day for Ghana. In spite of the public outcry parliament went ahead to pass it.”