On March 28, 2018 thousands of Ghanaians took to the streets of the capital Accra to protest a deal their government recently inked with US diplomats. Demonstrators came to show their objections to a multi-million-dollar agreement to strengthen military ties between the United States and Ghana. While the agreement is multi-faceted, a dominant theme is opening the door for a strong US military presence in the country. The deal allows American forces to use Ghana as a geographical asset in operations in the region, such as utilizing runways, and also permits the use of Ghanaian radio channels.
Also highlighted in the agreement is more joint exercises with American units. Officials in the country tried to play down the significance of the recent deal, presenting it as merely an extension of a two-decades-long relationship between the United States and Ghana, a West African country that has frequently been a host for bilateral military drills for a variety of nations.
“It’s the same arrangement we’ve had in times past,” said Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the deputy minister of information. He said that resistance to the deal was largely driven by the political motivations of opposition parties. Another factor highlighting the significance of this deal from a purely technical perspective is that it does not set any plans to establish a permanent US base in Ghana.
Clearly not all Ghanaians see the agreement quite that way. Among the 3000 protesters, signs could be seen with slogans bemoaning the loss of Ghana’s sovereignty to America. Frank Amoako Hene, National Union of Ghana Students president, was among the crowds in Accra on Wednesday. He told reporters that inviting the US into the country in any capacity was akin to a national sell-out. “Having partaken in the struggle and fight towards our independence, we can never sit unconcerned when it comes to an agreement that has the tendency of compromising our sovereignty and integrity,” said Hene.
The recent deal struck between the US and Ghana is the latest step in the administration’s strategy of expanding its role in Africa. The subsequent protests demonstrate an example of what US policy in Africa building more traction can trigger.
Over the past several months, the United States has become strongly aware of the need to invest in the continent. This need is several-fold.
First, countering jihadism in Africa has become a major priority. The US has been increasingly focused on combating groups ranging from the ISIS-loyal Boko Haram to the Somali-based Al Shabaab.
Secondly, Africa has become a major center for terror financing through illicit businesses, primarily involving narcotics production and trafficking. The capital amassed through these activities funds militant groups not just in Africa, but in other regions, including the Middle East.
Thirdly, the US feels a strong need to counter China’s inroads into the continent over the past several years. Many African countries starving for economic investment and assistance with setting up their basic infrastructure have been low-hanging fruit for Beijing, and provided opportunities for the Chinese to entrench themselves in several countries.
Statement on the Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Ghana: pic.twitter.com/STrn9cSthH
— US Embassy Ghana (@USEmbassyGhana) March 28, 2018
Ironically, the reason Ghanaians are protesting the US military deal is for the very reason American diplomats had warned other African nations not to be too open to fomenting relations with China. In his recent trip to Africa, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned about the potential consequences of opening their doors to the PRC and how investment may lead to the Chinese wresting control of territory and resources from national authorities. Now the US has to deal with these very same objections aimed at them.
Whether the backlash in Ghana is setting a precedent for other countries’ reactions to similar deals remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: the US is ramping up its activities in Africa, a continent that is quickly becoming prime real estate for world powers.
