By Alex Osei-Boateng
ACCRA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said Thursday night that Ghana has not offered a military base to the United States.
Thee Untied States has not made any request for such consideration and in consistent with the country's established foreign policy, Ghana will not consider any such request, he said.
The Ghana-U.S. defence cooperation agreement which was ratified by the Ghanaian parliament on March 23, 2018 gives American soldiers unimpeded access to certain key installations in Ghana. And in return, Ghana will earn 20 million U.S. dollars by way of equipment and training of its soldiers.
The agreement generated a lot of heat in the West African country over the past two weeks.
Last week, thousands of Ghanaians protested against the military cooperation pact, calling for its withdrawal or revision to safeguard Ghana's sovereignty.
In an address to the nation, Akufo-Addo said his government came to know that Ghana has entered into a cooperation agreement with the United States, in 1998, 2000 and 2015.
According to him, his administration is aware that the conditions which necessitate the agreement have not disappeared but rather increased, and therefore the need has arisen for continuing with the cooperation.
He said no suggestion has ever been made that the United States has abused any of the privileges or concessions granted under any of these agreements.
He said in consideration of the realities of Ghana's circumstances, and the challenges to peace in the region, his government has deemed it prudent to continue the cooperation agreement.
"It is our firm belief that the agreement will help enhance our defence capability, and offer an important layer of support in our common effort to protect the peace in our region," Akufo-Addo said.
Meanwhile, the United States has denied that it intends to build a military base in Ghana.