Protests against Ghana-US security deal

A group called Ghana First, made up students and politicians, gathered in the capital Accra to protest against a security cooperation agreement with the US.
Ghana’s parliament endorsed the controversial deal last Friday amidst opposition boycott and protest.
The protesters, numbering over 1,000, want President Akufo-Addo to reject the co-operation agreement.

The deal which will allow US forces and equipment to be deployed in Ghana is seen as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
It also requires Ghana to provide unimpeded access to agreed facilities and areas to US forces and their contractors.
Protesters are also unhappy that the US will be able to use Ghana’s radio spectrum for free and be exempted from paying tax on equipment imported into the country.
They say that the presence of US troops could expose the country to terrorist attacks.
The government, however, says the deal is a renewal of an existing agreement and they feel it’s in the best interest of Ghana.
The country signed similar agreements in 1998 and 2015.
But this particular one has some additional terms which weren’t in previous pacts.
Two separate lawsuits have already been filed against the government at the Supreme Court to challenge the deal.
It comes amid an increase in activity by militant jihadist groups in West Africa. This may explain why the US wants to increase its presence in the region.