A former Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah, has slammed President Akufo-Addo for saying that the military agreement will not allow the US military troops to establish a base in Ghana.
In an interview with Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, the former military capo questioned why the president and his appointees deceived Ghanaians by making such false claims. He said, wherever the military will work from is a base and the simple term of a base is where you operate from. We have different types and you can fortify it considering the threats.
It will also depend on the mission that brought you to that base.” President Akufo-Addo on Thursday stressed that his administration has not offered the US troops an opportunity to establish a base in Ghana and will not do same should they request for it.
But Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah shot that down and insisted the Americans will have a base in Ghana. In the view of the former appointee under Mahama, Ghanaians are not properly informed hence we are all just talking about the deal. ‘’The problem with all these agreement is that, we are all not properly informed.
Parliament was not properly informed. Cabinet was not properly informed…What I will suggest is that this should be put to a public debate.’’ Although we’ve had cooperation with the US in the past, we have not had an agreement of this nature, he told the host. He quizzed, ‘’are we aware why they are coming here? Are we aware why they decided to come to Ghana? This agreement is not an ordinary agreement.
When you read between the lines, you will realize that, the agreement is not an ordinary one…They are using our territory to launch an attack. Are we prepared for that? I cannot see anything that will benefit Ghana from this agreement.
Why do we walk into this danger? What is $20 million? Is that something we cannot afford and walk into a danger like this? We cannot sell our independence for $20 million.’’ The argument that, we will benefit in terms of capacity when the military troops come into the country he posited is baseless and without merit ‘’We rushed in accepting this deal.
The first thing the US troops will do when they come into the country will be the establishment of a military base. I am saying that, let us take our time, we should not rush with the deal. The president should allow Ghanaians to debate the deal,’’ he concluded.
