US-Ghana Military Deal Not Any Different From Other Countries

The US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson, maintains the U.S. government is not shortchanging Ghanaians in the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) signed between his country and Ghana.

According to him, the agreement signed between Ghana and the U.S. is not materially different from the defence cooperation agreement which the U.S. has signed with other countries across the world.

Answering questions from the media in Cape Coast, the Central Region capital, after a public lecture organised by the Department of History at the University of Cape Coast, Robert Jackson said he was hopeful that as the raging public debate goes on, Ghanaians would understand that the conditions do not purport to sell the sovereignty of Ghana.

“This deal is about strengthening the capacities of the security forces of Ghana and the USA. This agreement builds on three existing agreements that are already in force. The agreement does not break new grounds but it brings all of the agreements together.

“It does not involve any condition that is different from the security cooperation between the U.S. and any other country in the world,” he assured.

He called on Ghanaians to disabuse their minds that the agreement signed means Ghana has sold its sovereignty to the U.S.

“This agreement does not either sell the sovereignty of Ghana or endanger the security of Ghana. We have nothing to hide. I think the debate is helping but the opposition to this is just as the opposition in the GITMO 2 where they raised red flags about the deal endangering Ghana.

“We are not asking you to sell your sovereignty to us. We are asking you to buy and invest in yourselves,” he asserted.

Robert Jackson says partnership breeds stronger forces because no country in the world can single-handedly deal with security issues.

“This agreement is about bringing Ghana into deeper security cooperation. It doesn’t involve a base; it doesn’t endanger Ghana’s security and it does not impose any harsh obligations on the government and the people of Ghana. This rather strengthens Ghana’s security,” he intimated.

The US ambassador called on Ghanaians to look at the issues dispassionately to understand that the US means well for Ghana.