Defence deal: Don’t do propaganda – NDC to Akufo-Addo

General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo ahead of his address on the Ghana-US defence cooperation deal to be factual so that Ghanaians will make informed decisions on the matter.

President Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to address the nation today, Thursday, 5 April 2018, concerning the agreement that has raised a lot of debate in the country.

Ahead of his address the NDC organised a press conference in Accra and charged the president to desist from falsehood.

“We don’t want him to come and engage in the same propaganda gimmicks that his two ministers have subjected the nation to. I mean the Minister for Information and the Minister for Defence,” Mr Nketia cautioned.

He stated that the president “should be very forthright with information about this deal because it concerns each and every individual in this country”.

The deal was approved by Ghana’s parliament although the Minority staged a walkout and Thursday’s encounter will be the first time the President will comment on the matter.

As part of the agreement, the United States of America’s government will be spending $20million in training and supplying equipment for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

Ghana has also agreed to bear the cost and take primary responsibility for securing US military facilities in the country.



Several protests have been organised against the deal but government is adamant and insists the agreement will benefit the country.

Mr Nketiah also charged President Akufo-Addo to address issues concerning the supposed appointment of Data Bank as transactional advisor to the Finance Ministry as well as the deportation of some 50 individuals who have been identified as “fake” journalists who travelled to Australia with the alleged help of sports authorities under the guise of travelling to cover the ongoing Commonwealth games.

The opposition also want Mr Akufo-Addo’s remarks and action being taken to address security following an attack on NDC Member of Parliament for Asunafo South constituency, Eric Opoku.

According to Mr Nketia, the President must also address the verbal attack on the military by Member of Parliament for Assin Central constituency Kennedy Agyapong.