Updates: Ghana First demo hits Accra, fmr Veep, NDC gurus spotted

Hundreds of Ghanaians are participating in a demonstration in the heart of the national capital, Accra, against a military cooperation agreement signed between the governments of Ghana and United States of America. Ghana First, as the Wednesday’s protest is christened, was organised by the Ghana First Patriotic Front with overwhelming support from the largest opposition party – National Democratic Congress. The NDC Minority in Parliament had even issued an official statement on Tuesday on their intention to join the demonstration. Former President John Mahama tweeted in support of the demonstration. “I join in declaring #GhanaFirst as my compatriots and other democratic forces converge to demonstrate their opposition to the Ghana/US military agreement,” he posted on social media as the exercise gathers momentum.

The former Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur joined the teeming demonstrators at the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle where the exercise began. The demonstrators vehemently opposed the US-Ghana military agreement, arguing that giving unfettered access to the US military will mean mortgaging Ghana’s sovereignty to the Americans. They are also incensed by their firm believe that the agreement will lead to the US setting up a military base in Ghana, which they say will expose the country to terrorism. This claim has consistently been denied by the government as well as the US Embassy in Accra. The demonstration, heavily guarded by personnel of the Ghana Police Service, will go through the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, to Farisco Traffic Light to TUC, pass through EOCO and end at the Hearts Park where the leaders of the exercise are expected to address the crowd. A police statement on Tuesday assured citizens that maximum security would be provided but warned, “No splinter demonstrations or acts intended to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the demonstration will be tolerated”.

Some of the placards carried by the demonstrators read: Nana Addo is a Terrorist; Ghana is Bigger than $20 million; Akufo Bin Addo; 2020 We Go Show Nana. more to follow Source: editors.3news.com | Ghana