The Controversial U.S.-Ghana Defense Agreement: A Threat to Sovereignty?

The Controversial U.S.-Ghana Defense Agreement: A Threat to Sovereignty?

In 2018, Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, refuted claims that the West African nation had agreed to offer a military base to the United States. This defense came after the ratification of a controversial defense cooperation agreement between the U.S. and Ghana. This agreement has raised eyebrows and concerns among various interest groups and critics within the country.

Kwesi Pratt Jr., a journalist and leader of the Socialist Movement of Ghana, voiced apprehensions that the agreement signifies an erosion of Ghanaian sovereignty. In 2021, these fears were further stoked by research from Pratt’s Socialist Movement, in conjunction with the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research. The research unveiled the establishment of the West Africa Logistics Network (WALN) at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. The U.S. military now uses the airport without any regulations, and hundreds of U.S. soldiers have been seen arriving and leaving from one of the airport terminals, fueling suspicions of operational activities in other West African countries.

Unprecedented Privileges and Immunities for U.S. Soldiers

The defense agreement gives U.S. soldiers privileges far exceeding those prescribed in the Vienna Convention for diplomats. These soldiers are not required to hold passports or visas to enter Ghana and are exempt from customs or any other inspections. More controversially, U.S. soldiers cannot be tried in Ghana or sued by Ghanaians for any damages or deaths caused. Critics argue that this provision is a gross violation of the country’s sovereignty and legal jurisdiction.

Critics assert that the defense agreement reflects a long history of Ghanaian governments appeasing Western states. Both the current president, Akufo Addo, and his predecessor, Kofi Abrefa Busia, have faced accusations of supporting ideologies that favor Western interests, to the detriment of Ghana’s national sovereignty and self-determination.

U.S. Interests in Africa: Counterterrorism or Resource Exploitation?

The U.S. maintains that its military presence in Africa is tied to its counterterrorism campaign, and an attempt to resist China’s growing influence in the region. However, critics suggest that the U.S. is more interested in Ghana’s vast natural resources and its strategic location for agricultural development and the service sector. Ghana is the largest producer of gold in Africa, the second largest producer of cocoa globally, and has significant deposits of iron, diamond, manganese, bauxite, oil, and gas.

Protecting Ghanaian Sovereignty and Resources

In light of these concerns, the U.S.-Ghana defense agreement has sparked debates about the erosion of Ghanaian sovereignty and the potential exploitation of its natural resources by the U.S. Critics argue that the agreement primarily serves U.S. interests and reflects a history of Ghanaian governments conceding to Western powers. As such, there is a growing call for a reassessment of the agreement to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and resources.