US Military deal: The discourse will influence decisions in 2020 polls - Kofi Henaku

Secretary of the Socialist Forum of Ghana Kofi Henaku, has said that he is confident that the controversial US-Ghana military deal will influence citizen’s decisions in the next general elections.

The deal, which was allegedly leaked to the media, created some division in the country with many believing the US stands to benefit more than Ghana.

In exchange for an alleged twenty million US dollars, the government of Ghana agreed to provide the US military troop a place of residence at the Kotoka International Airport, and also grant them unhindered access to some key installations in the country.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) together with a group calling itself Ghana First Patriotic Front (GFPF) embarked on a demonstration arguing that it was in the way of the country’s sovereignty.

They also criticized the government for accepting the deal despite strong resistance from the public.

Speaking to ghanaweb.com on the sideline of a Public Forum on the US Military base in Ghana Monday June 4, Secretary for the Socialist Forum, Kofi Henaku said although talks about the deal has minimized, it was still an issue people will consider before voting in the next general elections.



“We have realized that the problems and fears that we have expressed about this deal has been experienced by other countries. So to share that experience from them with us is very important and that is why the Socialist Forum decided to hold this forum.”

A continuous discourse on this issue will bring out all sides of the matter and 2020 is not that far. If by then we are still discussing this issue it will help people make their decision. They will have to decide whether to retain the government that is bringing in this deal, and create a military base or not. The fact that the media is not taking about this issue doesn’t mean it is over.

He stated that since the discussion on the deal was not limited by any language barrier, people have been given an opportunity to understand the issue, raise concerns and contribute to the general discussions to better inform them and equip them to make decisions with the US-Ghana military deal in mind.



“People think that most people are illiterate, they can’t read but they should know that people listen. The conversation is not only in English but in the local dialect. Forum are being held, we have films being played to show the effect of the establishment of a US military base on any soil and people have access to all this. These movies are being shown at the community levels so the fact that at the national level the media houses and the newspapers are not showing these things doesn’t mean the conversation is still not ongoing.”