A section of the demonstrators
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political parties have embarked on a demonstration in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, to express their displeasure with the Ghana-US military agreement.
Under the agreement, US military would have unfettered access to certain facilities in Ghana where soldiers would be trained.
According to the NDC, the agreement is not in the best interest of the ordinary Ghanaian and must be renegotiated to benefit all Ghanaians.
The General Secretary of the party, Aseidu Nketiah, popularly known as General Mosquito, said the interest of Ghanaians must not be subverted under any circumstance.
Aseidu Nketiah stated that the agreement comes with no stipulated time, making it an everlasting agreement which cannot be revoked or amended.
“We are not against America, all we’re saying is that we don’t want the agreement. If even it becomes necessary to accept the agreement, we want government to renegotiate it to be largely in the interest of the Ghanaian people to safeguard our nation and territories against future terrorism,” he pointed out.
The NDC General Secretary hinted that the soldiers would be granted immunity and would not be under any obligation to respect the rules and laws of the country.
According to Dr Ken Ahorsu, a senior research fellow of LECIAD of the University of Ghana, under the agreement, the Tamale International Airport and the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) would be used as the bases for the US military.
He noted that the two international airports have been earmarked under the agreement because of their infrastructure developments and advancements.
The demonstrators, who sang war songs and drummed, marched through the principal business center of Tamale.
Some NDC bigwigs that took part in the protest included Alhassan Suhuyini, Haruna Iddrisu, ABA Fuseini, Aseidu Nketia, Okudzeto Ablakwa and other representatives of various political parties.
From Eric Kombat, Tamale