NDC gurus, others storm Parliament

Some leading members of the National Democratic Congress including Chairperson, Kofi Portuphy, Vice Chairperson, Anita Desoso, General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and his deputy Koku Anyidoho have stormed Parliament today as the house is expected to begin debating the controversial military pact between Ghana and the United States.

Founder and Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC) party, Hassan Ayariga as well as some pressure groups are also in the house.

Clad in red armbands and scarf, they believe their presence in Parliament will convince the MPs to withdraw the agreement between both countries.

According to them, they will oppose it by whatever means available to ensure that Parliament does not pass the agreement as the fight is in the interest of Ghana and not based on politics.

The Government of Ghana, according to a leaked document, has approved the agreement with the US to set up a military base in Ghana and also allow unrestricted access to a host of facilities and wide-ranging tax exemptions to the United States Military—a claim the government of Ghana and the US denied.

The document was laid before parliament on Wednesday by the Defence Minister for ratification, however, members on the minority side have voiced their displeasure with the government’s attempt to ‘sell Ghana’s sovereignty to the United States of America’.

Meanwhile pressure group, Economic Freedom Fighters have been denied entry into premises of the Lawmaking House.

Police officers stationed at the main gate of the state house closed the gates when the group which has been campaigning against Parliament ratifying the Ghana-US defence cooperation agreement wanted to enter the premises.