Former Presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Hassan Ayariga, has been spotted riding a horse to protest against the the controversial Defence Cooperation Agreement between Ghana and the United States of America currently underway in Accra.
The demonstration, organised by the Ghana First Patriotic Front (GFPF), is to protest the ratified Ghana-U.S. defence cooperation agreement.
Earlier, the APC founder offered to pay the $20 million being invested by the United State into the Ghana Armed Forces this year as part of an agreement that will allow their troops to be stationed in Ghana.
According to Mr. Ayariga, the Memorandum of Understanding for defence cooperation, which was approved by Parliament on Friday, amounted to the sale of the country’s sovereignty.
Speaking to Accra-based Asempa FM, Mr Ayariga said he had written a cheque for $20 million dollars, which he had taken with him to Parliament yesterday in order to prevent the deal from being approved. “I went there to give them the cheque if they are ready. They should take the $20 million they want and leave Ghana for us. We want to buy off our sovereignty and we think that if it is the money that the military wants to take, they should come for this, we’ll give it to them for free. After all, everybody is supposed to be a stakeholder and help build Ghana,” he said.
“Nkrumah bought the sovereignty of Ghana with his life, others died to protect Ghana, military men went to war to get out freedom and a whole lot of people sacrificed their lives to make us have comfortable lives today. So we will not allow the Danquah-Busia tradition to sell our sovereignty for a mere $20 million. We will not do that. If that is what their interests are, we will allow them to have the $20 million and leave us to live in peace.”