Minority stages walkout as Parliament considers Ghana-US military agreement

The Minority in Parliament walked out on Friday while the house was considering ratifying the military cooperation agreement Ghana is entering with the United States of America.

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu who led his side in staging the walkout said they cannot be part of the process because it would amount to “opening the floodgate of Ghana to Americans to come and abuse” Ghanaians.

Approving the controversial agreement, he said it would also open Ghana for attacks and acts of terrorism.

Haruna Iddrisu had earlier noted that since the agreement is not a bill, parliament is unable to make any changes when it deems fit.

He justified his position by quoting Article 75 (1 and2), states in part, “A treaty, agreement or convention executed by or under the authority of the President shall be subject to ratification by-

“(a) Act of Parliament; or

“(b) a resolution of Parliament supported by the votes of more than on-half of all the members of Parliament.”

“What is before us is not a bill that parliament can make addition or subtraction,” he reminded the house.

He shot down claims by the Majority in Parliament that similar agreements signed between the two countries in 1998 and 2015 respectively were signed in secrecy.

The Minority Leader went on to  point out some remarking differences between the current agreement and the previous. He stated for instance, whilst the current one is granting the Americans soldiers “unfettered access” to military installations in Ghana, the other agreement were purely based on “logistics support and supplies”.

Haruna Iddrisu also raised what he termed constitutional issues and strongly registered his disapproval for portions of the agreement which demand that disputes relating to the agreement shall not be referred to local or international court.

He indicated that even persons whose human rights have been infringed upon by the American soldiers cannot be heard in any court in Ghana, “and you want me to approve this”.

More to follow

By Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana

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The Minority in Parliament walked out on Friday while the house was considering ratifying the military cooperation agreement Ghana is entering with the United States of America. The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu who led his side in staging the walkout said they cannot be part of the process because it would amount to “opening the …

The post Minority stages walkout as Parliament considers Ghana-US military agreement appeared first on 3newsgh.

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