Parliamentary select committee on Defence and Interior will today March 21, 2018 interrogate Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, over the issues surrounding an agreement relating to the establishment of a US military base in Ghana.
This was revealed by Minority ranking member of the Defence and Interior committee of Parliament, James Agalga in an exclusive interview with Prime News on Tuesday, following several concerns about the said agreement which was intercepted by the media.
"The committee will engage with the Defence Minister to offer him an opportunity to explain the circumstances that must have informed the government of Ghana to enter into such an agreement with the United States of America", he revealed.
Although Cabinet has approved the agreement, it is yet to be approved by Parliament. The military base agreement was laid before Parliament, Tuesday, and was referred by Speaker of Parliament, Aaron Mike Ocquaye to the Committee for Defence and interior to be scrutinized.Â
Mr Agalga further observed that per the terms of the agreement, Ghana is likely to face more risks if it heeds to the establishment of a US military base in the country "as clearly shown".
"What this means is that Ghana is selling part of its sovereign rights as a country to a foreign military power with all its consequences. The adversaries of the United States can now treat Ghana as a legitimate target of attacks, which we do not want to be exposed to. This agreement, I believe is not in the best interest of Ghana," he said
He, however, added that all matters concerning the US military base agreement will be discussed when the Defence minister appears before the parliamentary committee on Wednesday.
Background
An agreement between Ghana and U.S government intercepted by the media suggests that Cabinet has approved a number of Ghanaian facilities an unrestricted access and tax exemptions to the United States Military.
The agreement will permit the U.S. Military to use Ghana as a base for staging and deploying forces.
Meanwhile, Ghana's Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul has denied reports that Parliament has approved the establishment of a US military base in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview on an Accra based radio station to address issues arising from a Defence Cooperation Agreement between Ghana and the United States of America, the Minister reiterated the fact that the Agreement does not permit an establishment of a Military Base in the Ghanaian jurisdiction, rather it is to further clarify the status of U.S. Military personnel and their activities with the Ghana Armed Forces.
Dominic Nitiwul continued that the Ghana Armed Forces has had a long-standing arrangement with U.S. Military when it comes to joint training and other operational activities within Ghana, hence the Agreement makes provisions of the status, rights and obligations conferred on the U.S. personnel.