![\"\"](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Protesters-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nScores of protesters who sought to gain access to Parliament to demonstrate against the anticipated approval of the Defence co-operation agreement between Ghana and the United States, were on Friday prevented from entering the House.<\/p>\n
Security personnel in Parliament say the protesters have no clearance from the authorities to embark on such an exercise.<\/p>\n
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[contextly_sidebar id=”4SfaRGNoMCBLy2BhRgWbTf42pxHZCsCj”]The main entrance of the House, has thus been shut with strict access checks being conducted for members of the public and workers seeking to enter.<\/p>\n
The protesters are however chanting slogans and songs despite being prevented from entering.<\/p>\n
The leader of the protesters, suspended CPP executive member Ernesto Yeboah, who was dissatisfied with Parliament\u2019s decision, said they pose no threat to the security of the House.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we holding guns? So on what basis are we disallowed from entering Parliament to have a sight of the proceedings in Parliament? They have absolutely no basis to restrain us from entering to have a sight of the proceedings. We are going to enter, we are going to sit down, we are going to observe the rules of Parliament.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed, we have told all Ghanaians that there is no threat. There is no danger. That nobody should be afraid. The reason you can call yourself a Ghanaian is because of that sovereignty. Today that sovereignty is under threat and that is exactly why we are mobilizing the people in resistance. We are telling the people that the power you have, came from us.”<\/p>\n
NDC leaders storm Parliament<\/strong><\/p>\n NDC leaders storm Parliament; Minority in red over \u2018military base\u2019 debate<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, top leaders of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), also stormed Parliament following reports that the House will debate the agreement seeking ratification to host a US military camp in Ghana.<\/p>\n The Minority Members of Parliament who have expressed their disapproval of the agreement are also clad in red armbands and headbands.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Minority MPs are either in red armbands or red headbands,\u201d Citi News<\/strong> correspondent, Duke Mensah Opoku reported.<\/p>\n General Secretary of NDC and his deputy, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Koku Anyidoho, NDC National Vice Chairperson, Anita Desoso among other party leaders, are currently in the public gallery of Parliament to throw their weight behind the minority MPs.<\/p>\n Also present is the founder and leader of the All People\u2019s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga.<\/p>\n Background<\/strong><\/p>\n The Minister of Defense, Dominic Nitiwul, on Tuesday laid before Parliament the document seeking to ratify an agreement for space around the Kotoka International Airport, which will serve as a camp for some US military forces in Ghana.<\/p>\n If approved, the agreement will among other things, exempt the US government from paying taxes on equipment that is brought to Ghana.<\/p>\n They will also be given the chance to set their own telecommunication system, although they will be allowed to use Ghana\u2019s radio spectrum free of charge.<\/p>\n Although many Ghanaians have expressed resentment over the clauses of the agreement, government had defended it and said the agreement is in the best interest of Ghana.<\/p>\n But the Minority has called on government to withdraw the agreement in its current form, saying it is not in the best interest of Ghana.<\/p>\n Minority blocks c\u2019ttee report on US \u2018military camp\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The Minority in Parliament on Thursday blocked the laying before<\/strong><\/span><\/a> Parliament, the report of the Joint Committee on Defence and Interior and Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, on the agreement.<\/p>\n In a brief protest between the two sides in Parliament on Thursday, the leadership of the Majority said the report was ready to be laid before the House to allow for debate.<\/p>\n However, the Minority disagreed insisting that the report wasn\u2019t ready.<\/p>\n The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye subsequently ruled that the laying of the report should be skipped until the two sides can come to a consensus on it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the report is ready it is ready. If it is not ready, you negotiate and if there is a negotiation and there is understanding I [will] proceed. [But] it appears there is clearly no negotiation so no progress,\u201d Prof. Oquaye said.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Marian Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana![\"\"](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/minority-in-parliament-for-us-military-base-debate-3.jpg\")
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