GH-US Military Pact - Newsfile on JoyNews (7-4-18)

my guests are seated and I'll introduce them right away from my left extreme is the Honorable James a gaagaa MP busan north and ranking member defense an interior committee of parliament okay so the man who chairs that committee that he belongs is here in the house this morning the MP phone price oh and he's a chairman of the Parliament Select Committee on defense and interior chef coming a chump oh thank you gentlemen for coming to the studio also here in the studio is in his office a need to continue where he left off and that the half recanvass his points he has come in in a way I can tell he is so so prepared and James equally the same of him because when they come with the loose of documents sometimes it is because they aren't already but when they have been able to compress the documents into only one or just the tablet you can tell that there is a reason for it so it is obvious a knee the elbow MP family central and ranking member legal constitutional and parliamentary affairs thank you for joining us once again the good morning and Abdul Malik cabaco editor-in-chief of the new crusading guide newspaper and our regular panelist once again here to take us down history if if you know that is the cave yet if if he is dead thank you gentlemen thank you thank you for joining us in the studio so it's been a week that's the gamma phase demonstrators the inter-party you know committee or coalition of the they call themselves for the sovereignty of Ghana have also been at work criticizing left right and center the u.s. Ghana military deal so the gutter president agitated I'm sure everyone agrees with that and the President himself said it but he was infuriated about some of these things so he has told them in very plain language to just shut up and stop they are reckless those are the words of the President hypocritical and on petrol Tech combats let's see how we exhaust this discussion this morning first let's take a listen to the president portions of what he had to say by national broadcast it is clear to me that if the people of Ghana knew the conditions under which foreign embassies and our friendly international institutions operate in Ghana nobody would have been surprised when a defense cooperation agreement would make such provisions such knowledge would have spared many citizens the genuine anxiety and concern they have felt about the agreement it is my firm belief that the case for openness and transparency in our governance has been clearly demonstrated and the argument conclusively settled by these events but we have to take issue with the front line politicians who are certain mislead the people in this blatant manner and those who from mischievous purposes leave the document destined for the scrutiny of Parliament's prematurely to a section of the media who then went on to describe it as a secret document how could a document intended for the consideration of Parliament be described as a secret document how could anyone who has been in government and run the administration of this nation feign ignorance of the conditions under which Ghanaian troops undertake peacekeeping operations all the conditions and the which our country has collaborated with major international institutions it is difficult to understand that such people may what they do know would go about so blatantly to confuse people and goes so fast calling for the overthrow of our democracy a democracy that has become the beacon of good governance in Africa and democracy that has survived for a quarter of a century and encompass even the most irresponsible episodes of ill governance in a state of unity and stability a democracy that has provided the framework for systemic developments in our social and economic welfare and assured us of the longest uninterrupted period of stable constitutional governance in our history surely this is the kind of cynical manipulation by reckless self seekers which in the fullness of time the people of Ghana will acknowledge and condemn and I'm sure that as the facts become clearer and widely available and as the people come to terms with the evidence they will reject the falsehood and deliberate attempts to destabilize our peaceful country truth is sacrosanct yes cynical but money really mean by a reckless sickest and you guys will be exposed in due course if you have already not been exposed that's what's going on isn't it we're strong words by His Excellency the President of the Republic rather his address in this first segment you do about five minutes each and please when I say stop you stop so that we can preserve time and then you don't come to complain we don't have time any further okay then we can deal with the documents themselves one more time and for the very final time on the show very well I think the word is were very strong words by the president yeah I I was you disappointed when I had those words the president in dealing with the issue he is physically on the basis of national interests and let me restate the only reason why we are engaged in this discussion is to ascertain with the degree of certainty whether the u.s. Ghana military cooperation agreement skills our national interests that is the only reasonable way engage in it and that the opportunity given to the president for the opportunity the president elected to take was to use the tools of rational persuasion to convince all of us and a show us that at all material times that he and his group is government engaged the United States government in negotiating the provisions of this Agreement they had the spring national interest a stake and in view and so III think that what the president did did not secure that reassurance by the people of this country the secondly I think the president was very condescending he also was very patronizing of ghanians I mean he employed policies of circular reasoning what most prominent is that I did not I the U has never made they request for a base with the government of the revell of the Ghana and perforation and even if they have we as a country will not have consider it the answer that the present and this government have always been called upon to answer is what is the nature and form of the that has been entered into with the United States by this government again simply what his Excellency the president has not called upon to answer and he failed refused or neglected to address in this mind to this very very important the most important assurance that Ganon's were seeking those who needed to be assured was that this is not if there is not a military base or there will not be one and the president emphasized that points in giving the assurance yes so what are you talking about it is the second part so when we come to the second part what has informed people to come to the conclusion that this agreement probably even though unintended will have the consequences of ex tablished in a military base in Ghana I mean we'll come to that in the second part the president did not answer that he just made an affirmation that this is M you can people can be honest all the time okay and probably that is his honest view but you can also take me talk about politicians that at least sometimes they can be a little dishonest with the people of this country but I burn I don't believe that the present was despondent to the people of this country I just think that he had the honest view that this agreement would not establish a military base and that that was Mahmud to him you say the speech was also very idiosyncratic and conditions why what fallacy or what thinkin informed the president that all through a reason issue we're necessarily of the opposition party not even any opposition party as a whole but inform the president I have known people who are sympathetic to this government NPP of race issue the gamma fence demonstration is led by the NDC well that is a demonstration I'm saying as a matter of fact that are no people in the MPP who have issues with disagreements now the president was given a national platform to address the people of Ghana unfortunately he got carried away by his political considerations and probably thought for a brief moment that he was on a political campaign platform he was not the the national anthem was played and clearly that gave him an opportunity to talk to us as a people he's heard he got carried away he was reading a speech we're eating speech was prepared the emotions of the well father the emotions of those who wrote the speech for him or the movie mode his emotions when he was writing this because I have known presidents who have written their own speeches i obama wrote his own speeches Abraham Lincoln wrote his own speeches so if he was writing the speech himself the emotions that came up and found expression in the in the in the in this page Manifesta is that when he was delivering the speech if the people who some people other people wrote the speech for him there was some telepathic transfer of the emotions that were in the people to the president and so we got carried away I see okay but even though how can you say that anybody who raised this issue about this agreement is reckless self-seeker I need body or persons like yourself known as are fully aware no not all ought to be aware of the terms of this deal which is not any different materially from previous ones should not be doing what you are doing because you are misleading the public and whipping up anti-american sentiments when you yourselves secretly enjoy American you know lodges look when we argue or sick to argue on the agreement we are just making statements on a series of propositions to establish a fact that this agreement is not in the interest of the country but is different and I do that in exercise of my fundamental right to freedom of speech okay okay I wouldn't do that because I'm MDC or a political being I do that in exercising and because the two she says the cleric all right and we are not in a dictatorship all right now he sounded like a dictator is so much more like a dictator he not willing to countenance or present views I haven't even known my mother that's why I was I was shocked I was surprised my I've never known my president Nadal bakufu I do to be intolerant of opposing views okay because this is what's president Gerry John Rollins rights but where the president's address was hard it was important and timely to hear him and the American ambassador Elia affirmed that there would be no military base establishing Ghana that was my major concern in my initial reaction to news of the agreement the spirit of cooperation be it military or diplomatic has always been there if there are details of the agreement that warrant a second look such details should be examined to create comfort for all well that's what from a prayer over president Rawlins I prefer to proceed in that manner should have done earlier you do take his time to examine issues and then he went to town and I criticized him for that just like general no no Nisa these are people who have been in state security state authority before in charge of this country what mr. Rollins has just said that's what you should have said earlier Oh checked he has assess to the state increases - she's of states including the presidency there he could have actually sought to verify those things but he added his voice to it in that negative way and he didn't help matters the grenouille means general enemies I still doing the same thing I'm sure when we come to the specifics no show the record general noon dementia even after the president has spoken insists that the president has been missing for yes and he said all sorts of things so this is a man who was a national security adviser it was a chief of Defense staff he's a bully he's so proud to tell people that twice to time the only two-time chief of Defense staff but of course before haven't asked the circumstances that led to that to time but I think that would be unfair for me to interrogate at this stage you have had starts to deal with the President's speech he was unpresidential he was angry all of that emotional where you see and I there are four areas where sure you would put in context what you've just said I see this place how else would we have exposed the unspeakable POC recei of the fraternity of some frontline politicians who make a habit of running with the head and hunting with the haunts we secretly wallow in the likeness of the United States of America was at the same time promote anti-american sentiments were published constituency I see nothing on presidential about this take me and their meaning by telephone one I'm not sure you if you give me 800 a lot point well that wasn't that a low blow we are talking about a national issue you're talking about their private you know enjoyment of lodgers of the US the focus from fraternity of front-line politicians please that's where the focuses now when you have a fraternity of front-line politicians how today telling you that this 2018 agreement will create room for introduction of nuclear bombs into this country then promotion of chemical and biological weapons into this country the introduction of homosexuality into this country if you have this people who are experienced who have been in government who have signed similar agreements out there pushing that line and telling the world that look here there are secret tunnels from the US Embassy to kinda national airport and that is how they bring them in here there's a military base by all means you have the minorities first statement issued have a copy here that's the parliamentary wing of the park and DC party the URL DC party Spain subsequent press conference statement here and these are faint libel politicians who have been in government before talking of how our visuals and unprecedented tax exemptions that went to identity 18 you know they are talking of the fact that people come in with the ID cards this are people who I expected to move because they had been part of it and they are out there play on the keyboard of people's emotions and driving people out there and I've said my focus has always been on those who have been in government before and who signs similar agreements not the same similar agreements are keep on emphasizing okay who are they hypocrites of the highest order hypocrites of the highest order adequate immediate response to them I hear them were mentioning some names like Professor killer Messiah some lecturers ents are they other the fraternity of online politicians less force you read the statements the issue you see the descender from us and that this 2018 agreement was completely new in our politics and diplomacy so the president was down down what to have described them as such see the second one but we have to take issue the front line all it is including the president who have sought to mislead the people in this blatant manner and those who from mischievous purposes linked the document disdain for the scrutiny of Parliament prematurely to a session of the media who then went on to describe it as a secret document you know my stand here housed Elvis's for me is the front line politicians with misleading and I've given you account leakage of documents I'd be the last person to be worried about it what contradiction is that even he the president is touting that he's the first to bring this to Parliament for scrutiny because he believes in the democracy and then he's and at the same time talking about the document having been a Republican I there's no contradiction he was talk classification they have different levels at when they become public and talking has a journalist I was making a point as a journalist I Bruin really look the truth is that that thing in got to Parliament before I would say no it was when it was leaked their members over it got to Parliament 14th of March it was in lead then it was lead I think subsequently and I'm sure the Chairman will tell I have that document yet as to when it was over the join use accounts they have a copy before it went to Ptolemy no but I don't I'm not contesting that girl I don't see why I should even contest that I am saying that what I knew is the 14th match that was before Joyce News anyway that was before Joyce breaking news about a week or ten dismal where is I'm in the document but it was late I think a Tuesday Android came out on a Monday but if you know the real facts the tragedy the movement of the correspondence from cabinets defense ministry and to Parliament it was 14th much long before FM came up so it was already Parliament once he gets to Parliament the necklace fishing changes yeah I don't have much problem like you know sir says if the president elects to do a nationwide broadcast to explain issues should he not be focusing on the facts and to demystify as he subsidy but they did as as he should have done but he did rather than what is because the majority of opinion so far as assessed by the media is that he filled in that job well I don't know where the survey was done and by who and hardly wait about a Sophie I wanna connect the deso yesterday yeah but on sienten no yes thank you the majority is that here's a few who have answered the question we make our own scientific a taste and I respect gonna connect in fact this dishing is one of my favorites I don't joke with the multimedia organs in terms of your broadcast so I click EC Rose but it is not a substitute for a scientific survey and that's why I say you once said it now Ted one surely this is the kind of silicon manipulation by reckless self seekers who in the fullness of time the people of Ghana work knowledge and pond em and I'm sure as the facts become clear and widely available and as the people come to tanks with the evidence didn't reject the false room and deliberate attempts to destabilize our peaceful country truth is sac we sort and wheezes this is an insult I've told you the minority their first statement the things they said Adam will be system by them the part that is the set and then on this show some of their own possessions and the fees they said ok they were reckless and the president was going on demonstrations was he intending to destabilize the country so why does he call this no you do something I suspect I had nothing to do with this statement but I suspect I'm reading it's nothing about yourself it's all that was done now if you have been invited to dance this Alessio suspicion world I suspect the president is alluding to kukuana doe hosting which you know I don't take zeros but I suspect that that's where the linkage is coming from because the man said 17 January 30 1972 you're fat I am you see I were thrown out and that less was really uncool d'etat I swear that's why the president is a recurring day it I don't put much premium and pukani on the hosting but the emphasis here is about the cynical manipulation by reckless of seekest that I agree if you you know look my world let's be honest I expect people who are being in government before and I've signed similar things to know you are talking of status of forces agreement okay and to assume that that is the route for a military base I mean please you are B you are cynically sick you are seeking to cynically manipulating people on basis of the IMS I see okay James you are one of these from these frontline politicians you are not a male member of the Defense Committee in Parliament you have continued to insist and you are going to do that again today that there is basis for a military base contrary to what the assurances the US have written to the Defense Ministry to explain and the president reaffirming of say so why should anybody follow the president in getting angry at the manner in which you are going about all of this something thank you very much first of all let me state that I share in the view of the ranking member for constitutional legal and parliamentary affairs Honorable in Mesa when he says that the president's address on the u.s. Ghana military pact was condescending but beyond that I would even go further to state that that particular address was also undemocratic it was undemocratic in the sense that in a democracy a multiparty democracy one of the factors that constrains executive authority vested in a president and you know the executive powers of the President under the 92 Constitution are enormous you need a vibrant opposition you need dissenting voices to constrain the exercise of the enormous power vested in him without such dissent you cannot talk about a multiparty democracy that is why the framers of the Constitution found it expedient to capture in article 21 the fully win words and let me read for the benefit of our listeners general fundamental freedoms 21 cross 1 all peasants shall have the right to a freedom of speech and expression which shall include freedom of the press and other media listen something something President ocupado talks about defamation and that statements made by those who are opposed to the 2018 Ghana US military pact have a defamed him and yet he was one of the leading political figures in this country who fought had to have the criminal libel law abolished so though you and I can freely express our views without fear of being incarcerated that is not even the issue I just wanted to establish the basis that whatever the opposition and those well-meaning ghanians did by raising their voices in the courageous manner in criticism of the US Ghana Military Park 2018 agreement did that in consonance what they are constitutionally guaranteed rights and so any attempt to create the impression that those guardians and members of the Opposition who raise their voices in that manner nation reckless self seekers hypocrites is unacceptable in the democratic disposition so I I thought that the President as somebody we wrote on the back of the constitutionally guaranteed rights to free expression and in fact represented quite a number of people in our law courts to vindicate those rights will not be the one to spew out these words and you know address we rarely article 21 one a absolutely you have not gone beyond that you have not read the qualifying clause that you find that requires the switch to be responsible and to be within the bounds of law of course all rights come with attendant Amin limitations so yes the freedom to speak etc express oneself it's not an absolute right but I am saying that within the context of all the debate that has so far as suit relative to they the enhanced defense cooperation between the US and Ghana nobody has stepped out of bounds why Guardians have read an agreement which was brought before Parliament and ratified in circumstances that well meaning Daniels and individuals thought was even unconstitutional to start with and a lawyer of high repute the president would say what those who raise those issues about the alcohols titular character of the agreement as self sickest nation records something let me respond quickly to a direct accusation I know my CDO cuckoo Baku naturally was referred to me because I sat in this to do I think that the 2018 agreement has terminology which has not been defined and that by implication if this agreement is allowed to stand the US government could even important to this country nuclear weapons biological weapons chemical weapons you know what that I I was I did not indulge in scare mongering and I still stand by that position that is the it resist in a fresh head yes yes no I mean yes yeah international you see how nuclear weapons are yes yes yes yes yes those rules have been in existence from day one countries that have the signatories recently we are guided by experience have used them look at what is happening in Syria so we are guided by facts and not emotion but something let me refer you because they have oftentimes made specific reference we're going to this document I go to the one recited in response direct response to okay quick ooh say you know criticism position sticking you you would see that notwithstanding the existence of international conventions etc the 2015 agreement as Presley expressly excluded the transfer of certain categories of a portion weapons and equipment which is clarifying so I'm referring to article 3 2015 yes only 2015 agreement I think a three yes now let's go to five five let's go five yes okay also excluded from transfer by either party and a disagreement are any items the transfer of which is prohibited by its national laws or regulations . in accordance with US law and regulation the latest is yes may the following items that's a key area and that this agreement guided missiles never minds and torpedoes nuclear and ammunition including such items such as warheads warheads sections projectiles demolition munitions and training ammunition then it goes on guidance kits for bonds or other ammunition e chemical munitions or ammunition which do not include riot control agents and it goes on and on and on us why was it important to state this position in the 2015 agreement because of this that was some specificity specificity they I exactly of the 2015 agreement the machine dealing with your judge oxidized and transfers that is the neutral country hakuna matata agreements have been made that this particular agreement 1998 formed the basis for the 2018 agreement if so why have we omitted all this important ethical which specifically restate the position of American law remember that this is the medicine law so they would pursue their national image how do we insulate ourselves from those violations would that an express statement of that position in the agreement okay thank you so long as you know we shall hold it that the principle of specificity for the day so now let's come to the chairman of the Defense and interior Committee you you you have the prep you have the present in very clear terms now there are there are there are suggestions that's in the first place there are two individual citizens who are in the Supreme Court challenging the processes that have been gone through in Parliament on this matter and the president on the basis of that ought to have refrained from even electing to do a national a nationwide broadcast on a matter that is subdued iki so to speak before a court of law the Supreme Court to pronounce on do you also find that that may have been the reason he didn't get into the finer details particularly regarding the propriety or otherwise of the ratification because as a subject before the courts thank you very much something that makes sense to some soon before me ever speak with you is a communication between the legislative arm of government and there's a good realm of government and as we said you would realize that I I mean government with the president but because I belong to the same political tradition but I operate from there the principle of separation of powers I will perform the arm of the legislature I speak as a rep of the legislature there is little later in so far as I understand the Parliament of Ghana has ratified the agreement and it has done its constitutional duty and it is gone well we may get there because they insist that you have ratified a draft agreement and not the agreement and on executed agreement but group councils like yourselves understand that it doesn't lie in my mouth to interpret this bill of rights or Ghana it is the duty of the Superior Court of Ghana I don't want to get in there the matter is before them let's deal with what is before us and I want to say to Ghana I am very much come because its Excellency the president addressed the nation as the commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and he did too and I really say admired him in this posture because this is a matter the bodies and the defense of the Republic of Ghana and the way and manner this conversation alleged and how it's a traveled we needed to see God our defense and for me he spoke forcefully to ensure that morale was up in a service I say this because many a times most of us who do not associate with these people when matters happen this way it gives them a different orientation and I'm happy the president did this to save that they and salvage the situation the president boosted the morale of the Armed Forces Hijazi because the student is going as the commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces so so so so so morale had gone down exactly because what was happening they felt we were over politicizing as an established international relational policy is the relationship of half to the US over decades it has nothing new you say we want to go into the meat of the subject we realized that whatever we have done was consistent with our relationship with the United States and so there is no thing nothing untoward that's whereas when the president says hypocrisy for me hypocrisy is nothing but a behavior and if he was just trying to categorize some commands not organized organized it's not Albany and we would necessarily maybe that's not Democratic congressman that definitely does very well so so that is why I was over that worried like exactly or win elections forever that is why that is why I am not so much perturbed my concern is that he might say silicon silicon is equally a behavior and so it is also much worse so but for me how are we going to get our defense forces back on their feet and that was what it almost detect for me and I was very very glad he did so and let me tell you in the presidencies there's a little bit of explanation about the morale of the Armed Forces that had gone down what is it in this deal have you had any results they felt the way least they were going to lose as a result of the public commentary and criticism thank you very much the entirety of this whole conversation sent us on the military no I'm not party to what is going to happen if you go to the agreement this agreement was interfaced by military officers lawyers or the United States Defense Department of Defense and lawyers of the Ghana Armed Forces and after they had done the initial work then they brought in by regulation and our rules they brought in that religion our thing is that when I read it I don't find any clause or article that says that you will get this much or that much I have only had a u.s. ambassador to Ghana say that there is somewhat 20 million dollars and that's good enough you know for us I haven't I don't get very many ways ah he owed for your for your whatever you are elucidation you believe that we in Parliament and maths acts of parliament subsequent to that we do regulations in support of the acts to give meaning to what we have done as an enactment as an act right simpliciter in that articles in that agreement article 17 describes whatever is supposed to be done subsequent that is what you want to know and that is why we don't need to cry over spilt milk this has looked new to the military offices of Ghana okay this is what they have been doing over the years and that's why in international relations that were that president said that when it comes to our international relations it is above he says if men don't use it indeed they may testes of America has not made in a request for Sacre situation that was when he was talking about a military base however inconsiderate when he said such consideration and consistent with our established foreign policy we will not consider any such request over the period we have engaged with them and this is the way we've engaged with them so I'm surprised when people talk about a military base there's nothing like that and that has been that has been the focus so when we supposed within this manner which means those who are seeing military bees he wants to satisfy the non Kenyans who really it is not organized who really appreciate what you are discussed I'll tell you why you have some Canyon's when they hear the name United States something triggers in their blood system and they go here while we have some Guardians the first is the tradition I belong to no matter what we do they will fight it you have some Ghanians we really want to sit back and read and carefully listen to the matter sometimes they get confuse us why you asking me these questions so we need to really dissect these boxes and then focus on them that's what a president did is to let those who really are getting countries realize the exact matter before them that is why he said a section burning a certain quantity of ghanians put him in office he must make sure he served them and I glad let me let me jump on a little motto so you get to the is where the president use some worse hypocrisy you see on 4th of January 2016 we had a communication from the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Ghana and this was signed at the time by a Deputy Director it says that and program three sisters it will be appreciated if the draft agreement could be considered an approved for only web transmission to the US authorities our tender that in evidence for you don't worry let me just jump on and the 15th of February this was written from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Minister of Defense it helps me that I'm doing this but these things are matters of security which is not supposed to come out but in the space in the exigencies it's what these matters are meant to town it will not settle the dust in Goregaon is assisted draft agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Ghana defense cooperation 15 for February and he says that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regional integration are submitted as surface military letter in reference a together bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah okay there's second progress what I need I am to request that you take the necessary action and submit a feedback on the matter to the Honorable list of for defence will act for further action these are matters which we have already agreed that draft agreement it was before us in and under the previous administration it comes back draft agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Ghana on defense cooperation this is the same weapon and there's a fourth of month this is the 4th of March 2016 2016 but you know twitchy is 2016 2016 is a year of battle when we said the battle was for the Lord and God brought us into office so the couple could not travel with the matter and left it it's still there it's been before them okay so you've asked your officers to see Odyssey I loved the four pieces will it will be appreciated if the data equipment could be considered and approved for onward transmission to the US authorities these are matters that at that level re-engage and flow so when we know of this and I would tell you I want to come and say that we have no knowledge energy I'm not concerned to my colleagues am sitting on the table with these are man of cabinet who understands what we mean by a cabinet communication distance whatever happen without a cabinet communication and they come out and tell us that they know next to nothing all right so so we can get into the main subject matter as we gas the documents that have been referred to profusely over the last two weeks on this subject of whether there will be a military base or there would not be a military base and despite all the assurances inusah Fuseini and james a gaga will make the point again to you on the basis of the documents that there is or will be a military base the chairman of the defense and interior quality and cubical will also demonstrate to you that our interpretations that are the figment of the imagination of these gentlemen and do not constitute part of the agreement question that has been asked why was it not stated in the agreement specific that there will not be a military base should defense matters of this nature also be matters for public discussion we'll get into that and show you why some disagree that we are getting to be too democratic and abuse the process the president spoke about it we'll be right back

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Id: EF0ONhu7AQc

Length: 46min 16sec (2776 seconds)

Published: Sat Apr 07 2018