No US Military Base in Ghana – US Embassy and Defense minister denies.

      No US Military Base in Ghana – US Embassy and Defense minister denies.

                                                 

  

                                             US ambassador to Ghana, Mr. A. R. Jackson.

The Embassy of United States of America has denied reaching an agreement to establish a military base in Ghana as reported by the media.

A statement issued by the Embassy in the capital of Ghana in response to the JOY FM report on the matter, the US explained that ‘The United States Embassy wishes to underscore that the United States has not requested, nor does it plan to establish a military base or bases in Ghana.’

It also indicated that the USA is investing over $20 million in training and the equipment for the armed forces of the republic of Ghana – Ghana is also once again preparing to train US forces as it did in 2017, the statement further added.

‘we will refer all other questions to the government of Ghana’, it added.

Apart from the statement from the embassy, the minister responsible for defense of the republic also issued a statement denying the report

A report by JOY FM on Tuesday indicates that the agreement is expected to be tabled before parliament sometime this week, grants the US military unfettered access to a host of Ghanaian facilities and wide – ranging tax exemptions.

However, the minister for defense Mr. Nitiwul has denied the report and says what is being constructed is not a military base but rather a defense cooperation agreement between the two countries to train Ghanaian soldiers.

He further added that the two countries have been involved in joint exercises over the years now and what they seek to do now, including the use of two building at KIA area is no different, stressing on the disclaimer he further said this agreement is not the first time and that similar ones were agreed between the two countries in 1997 and 2007.

According to JOY FM publishing, Dominic Nitiwul is pushing for parliament to ratify the agreement because it has enormous benefits for the Ghana.    

  Author; Azuraa Bukari Ayuba.