Protesters blocked from entering Parliament over ‘military base’ debate

General News of Friday, 23 March 2018

Source: citifmonline.com

2018-03-23

Freedom Fighters Parliament SksSecurity personnel say the protesters did not have clearance to embark on such an exercise

Scores of protesters who sought to gain access to Parliament to demonstrate against the anticipated approval of the Defence co-operation agreement between Ghana and the United States, were on Friday prevented from entering the House.

Security personnel in Parliament say the protesters have no clearance from the authorities to embark on such an exercise.

The main entrance of the house, has thus been shut with strict access checks being conducted for members of the public and workers seeking to enter. The protesters are however chanting slogans and songs despite being prevented from entering.

Leader of the protesters, who is also a suspended CPP executive member, Ernesto Yeboah, who was dissatisfied with Parliament’s decision said they pose no threat to the security of the House.

“Are we holding guns? So on what basis are we disallowed from entering Parliament to have a sight of the proceedings in Parliament? They have absolutely no basis to restrain us from entering to have a sight of the proceedings. We are going to enter, we are going to sit down, we are going to observe the rules of Parliament.

“Indeed, we have told all Ghanaians that there is no threat. There is no danger. That nobody should be afraid. Reason you can call yourself a Ghanaian is because of that sovereignty. Today that sovereignty is under threat and that is exactly why we are mobilizing the people in resistance. We are telling the people that the power you have, came from us.”

NDC leaders storm Parliament

Meanwhile, top leaders of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), also stormed Parliament following reports that the House will debate the agreement seeking ratification to host a US military camp in Ghana.

The Minority Members of Parliament who have expressed their disapproval of the agreement are also clad in red armbands and headbands.

“The minority MPs are either in red armbands or red headbands,” Citi News correspondent, Duke Mensah Opoku reported.

General Secretary of NDC and his deputy, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Koku Anyidoho, NDC National Vice Chairperson, Anita Desoso among other party leaders, are currently in the public gallery of Parliament to throw their weight behind the minority MPs.

Also present is the founder and leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga.

Background

The Minister of Defense, Dominic Nitiwul, on Tuesday laid before Parliament the document seeking to ratify an agreement for space around the Kotoka International Airport, which will serve as a camp for some US military forces in Ghana.

If approved, the agreement will among other things, exempt the US government from paying taxes on equipment that is brought to Ghana.

They will also be given the chance to set their own telecommunication system, although they will be allowed to use Ghana’s radio spectrum free of charge.

Although many Ghanaians have expressed resentment over the clauses of the agreement, government had defended it and said the agreement is in the best interest of Ghana.

But the Minority has called on government to withdraw the agreement in its current form, saying it is not in the best interest of Ghana.

Minority blocks c’ttee report on US ‘military camp’

The Minority in Parliament on Thursday blocked the laying before Parliament, the report of the Joint Committee on Defence and Interior and Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, on the agreement.

In a brief protest between the two sides in Parliament today [Thursday], the leadership of the Majority said the report was ready to be laid before the House to allow for debate.

However, the Minority disagreed insisting that the report wasn’t ready.

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye subsequently ruled that the laying of the report should be skipped until the two sides can come to a consensus on it.

“If the report is ready it is ready. If it is not ready, you negotiate and if there is a negotiation and there is understanding I [will] proceed. [But] it appears there is clearly no negotiation so no progress,” Prof. Oquaye said.

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