Kwesi Pratt backs renewed call to scrap Ghana-US military pact, citing sovereignty concerns
via GhanaWeb5 min read
Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, has reiterated calls for the 2018 Ghana-US defence cooperation agreement to be annulled. Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on April 22, 2026, Pratt described provisions within the Ghana-US Status of Military Agreement as "insulting" and a threat to Ghana's sovereignty. He argued that the agreement grants US forces access to key national infrastructure, allows them to operate without visas or passports using only military identification, and provides exemptions from taxes, customs duties, and inspections. Pratt also highlighted concerns about legal immunity for US personnel and their ability to move military equipment without case-by-case approval. He warned that allowing Ghana's territory to be used as an operational base could expose the country to external threats and make it a target in conflicts. Pratt's comments align with intensified calls from the youth wing of the Socialist Forum for the agreement's repeal through a nationwide petition. While acknowledging the agreement's constitutional ratification by Parliament, Pratt maintained that legality does not equate to legitimacy, urging a national re-evaluation of the pact.
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