Pressure group Economic Fighters League has served notice that it will march to parliament on Friday, 23 March 2018, to force the legislature to reject a military agreement with the United States of America.

“The Economic Fighters League calls on all Ghanaians to storm Parliament this Friday in red or black to register our resistance to the intended US Military Occupation of Ghana,” a release signed by the group’s Fighter-General, Commander Hardi Yakubu, stated on Wednesday, 22 March 2018.

Ghana’s Cabinet has approved an agreement granting access to the U.S. to establish a military post in Ghana. It also indicated that Ghana has also agreed to bear the cost of the base and take primary responsibility for securing U.S. military facilities in the country.

The news has generated mixed reactions. Parliamentarians are divided over the matter even before the deal is tabled for discussion.

U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson, however, says the military agreement between the two countries does not amount to an invasion of the West African country.

According to him, there are different programmes that will take place at different times of the year, adding that each exercise will not have more than 200 U.S. troops on Ghana’s soil.

The U.S. Ambassador said his country will fully cooperate with the Ghana Armed Forces and political authorities in undertaking three mutually beneficial military exercises this year, which will involve training on counter-terrorism, response to disaster exercises and security-related programmes.

“For each exercise, we are looking at up to 200 Americans, and to my knowledge, in recent years, we have never brought in more than that; and for the time being, at the level of operations, we don’t contemplate bringing more than that in. So, this is not an invasion, I want to be clear about that,” Mr Jackson told Joy News’ Gifty Andoh on Thursday, 22 March 2018.

However, the Economic Fighters League has said Ghanaians must rise up against it. “Fellow Ghanaians, there comes a time when the state must be protected from ill-directed lawmakers and government. Now is one such moment. As parliament seeks to hand over the security of Ghana on a plate to American military occupation, it's time to resist; it's time to come out and express our strong disagreement; it's time to save our present and future from such danger,” the statement added.

They have subsequently advised the public to observe the following:

1. There is nothing to fear about storming Parliament on Friday.

2. You are a citizen of Ghana and you have the right to go to Parliament to observe your MPs from the public gallery.

3. Dress formally in red or black. If you want to be seated at the public gallery then note – no t-shirts.

4. Be disciplined and co-operate fully with the security at parliament.

5. Remember that this is about the sovereignty of your country. Treat this with all the seriousness that it deserves.

6. Come with your Ghana flags if you have, and with any loud instruments you can play.

Source: classfmonline.com