Parliament Ratifies Controversial Ghana-US Military Cooperation Agreement 

The controversial Ghana-US Military Cooperation agreement has finally been ratified by Parliament. 

This was after the Minority led by its leader, Haruna Iddrisu walked out of the House during the debate on the report. 

Our Parliamentary Correspondents, Bubu Klinogo and Augustus Acquaye report that the process was marred by some ugly scenes, compelling the Speaker to walk out of the Chamber until normalcy was restored. 

There was heavy Military and Police presence to maintain law and order and ensure safety. 

The agreement between the government of Ghana and the government of the United States of America on Defence Cooperation, the status of US forces and access and use of agreed facilities and areas in Ghana was laid in Parliament last Tuesday, after which it was referred to the joint committee on Defence and Interior and Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. 

After deliberations, majority members in the committee found out that the ratification of the agreement will help provide a mutually beneficial arrangement for cooperation and readiness to combat emerging global security threats whilst also enhancing the already existing relationship between the two countries in the area of security cooperation. 

However, there was some drama in the House after the motion for the adoption of the report was moved by the chairman of the Committee on Defence and Interior, Seth Acheampong. 

The Minority Leader rose to request that the ranking member on the committee, James Agalga be allowed to propose an amendment to portions of the report to reflect that the Minority members were not in support of the agreement.

However, the Majority side insisted that it was a wrong procedure, insisting if a motion is moved it must be seconded before any comments can be made on it. 

This did not go down well with the Minority and they protested by banging the tables and singing patriotic songs, whilst displaying placards with the inscription Ghana First.

Contrary to the standing orders of Parliament, people in the public gallery, mainly national executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other leading political figures from other parties were also displaying the placards. 

Attempts by the Marshall and other officials of Parliament to bring them to order proved futile as they resisted, with the backing of the Minority MPs. At a point the Speaker had to step out for a while for calm to be restored.

When calm was restored, the motion was seconded and Mr. Agalga was also given the opportunity to effect the amendments. 

When it was time for debate, Member of Parliament (MP) for Adentan, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah opened the floor. He argued that the same agreement existed under NDC governments of President Rawlings and President Mahama. 

Next to contribute to the debate was the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu. 

He argued that the agreements under the NDC regimes were mission specific ones while the current one is permanent and broad.

He also argued that the agreement brought before the House did not meet the constitutional provision. In view of that, he announced that the minority could not take part in the debate. 

He then led his side to walk out. But the Majority continued with the debate with contributions from the ministers of the interior and defense.

The report has since been adopted and the agreement ratified. 

Meanwhile, during the heated moment, there was heavy deployment of Military and Police to maintain law and order and ensure safety.

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