Tradition of Friendship Goes On

I can hardly repress my excitement as I receive the news about an unofficial China visit by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

The traditional DPRK-China friendship is a priceless legacy and valuable asset which was provided and handed down by the preceding leaders of the two countries.

During the Fatherland Liberation War the valiant soldiers of the Chinese People’s Volunteers fought bravely at the risk of their lives against the common enemy, sharing comradeship and fraternity in the same trenches with the Korean People’s Army soldiers.

In the past, the peoples of the two countries cherished deep in their mind the preciousness of bilateral unity and cooperation in ensuring their happiness and future.

The Supreme Leader’s first visit to China will mark a milestone in developing the long-standing ties.

War veteran Kim Pyong Gwan

Inter-Korean High-level Talks Held

High-ranking officials of the north and south of Korea got together at Thongil House in Panmunjom on March 29 to discuss an inter-Korean summit meeting amid mounting enthusiasm for national reconciliation and unity.

The north-south talks were attended by a DPRK delegation headed by Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, and a south Korean delegation led by Jo Myong Gyun, minister of Unification.

They held a sincere consultation about the practical matters of the inter-Korean summit meeting, before adopting a joint press release.

It specifies the time and venue of the summit and the agreement that both sides will hold several working-level talks as preparation for the summit and discuss other matters through the exchange of documents.

KCNA

Mind Your Own Affairs

Japan launched another anti-DPRK human rights campaign at the recent 37th UN Human Rights Council session.

The deputy representative of Geneva-based Japanese mission said in the meeting that the DPRK keeps developing nukes and missiles in disregard of the locals’ human rights and in violation of UNSC resolutions, urging the international community to take an action against it.

He went so far as to bring a seven-page draft “resolution on north Korean human rights” before the meeting in a bid to brand the DPRK as human rights violator.

Japan has made no reparations and apology though it committed heinous, unethical crimes unprecedented in the world and inflicted immeasurable misfortune and suffering on the Koreans and other Asian nations. It is ridiculous for the Japanese, the modern version of Don Quixote, who is acting rashly without sensing himself, to talk about the DPRK’s human rights.

Now, the voice of denunciation and criticism against the sexual slavery crimes committed by the Japanese militarists during World War II is getting louder in the world.

Japan’s attitude and stand towards it, however, enrage all the people.

Japan keeps denying the past wrongdoings while distorting history, asserting that the sexual slavery issue was not organizational but voluntary service.

This is a mockery of the international community and a shameless act of insulting the sexual slavery victims.

The locals are following suit.

World-startling murder cases occur one after another these days in Japan. In a few months ago, a woman was arrested in Kanagawa Prefecture as she threw away her dead suckling in a traveller’s bag, and a female strangled her husband in Aichi Prefecture.

It shows that all kinds of crimes beyond imagination are rampant in Japanese society.

Such a country has no face to speak ill of the DPRK’s human rights.

Japan had better mind its own affairs.

By Song Jong Ho PT

DPRK Leader Pays Unofficial Visit to China

Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, paid an unofficial visit to China from March 25 to 28 at the invitation of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, president of the People's Republic of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

He was accompanied by his wife Ri Sol Ju. Among his suite members were Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, vice-chairman of the SAC of the DPRK and vice-chairman of the WPK Central Committee; Pak Kwang Ho, Ri Su Yong and Kim Yong Chol, members of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and vice-chairmen of the WPK Central Committee; Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee; Jo Yong Won, Kim Song Nam and Kim Pyong Ho, deputy-department directors of the WPK Central Committee; and members of the SAC of the DPRK.

When the special train carrying Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Dandong, Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee; Chen Qiufa, secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the CPC; Lu Dongfu, general manager of the China Railway Corporation; Li Jinjun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK; Liu Huanxin, member of the Standing Committee and secretary-general of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the CPC; and Ge Haiying, secretary of the Dandong City Committee of the CPC, greeted him.

Kim Jong Un expressed thanks to Song Tao and his party for greeting him at the border city far away from Beijing.

Song Tao warmly welcomed Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju's visit to China, noting he came from Beijing upon authorization of Xi Jinping.

Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on March 26.

He was greeted by Wang Huning, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat; Ding Xuexiang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat and director of the CPC Central Committee General Office; Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee; Lu Dongfu, general manager of the China Railway Corporation, and Li Jinjun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK.

He exchanged greetings with the leading party and government officials of China who greeted him.

The motorcade carrying him and his wife headed for the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, escorted by 21 motorcycles.

A ceremony for welcoming Kim Jong Un's visit to China took place with splendour at the Great Hall of the People.

There were talks between Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping.

At the end of the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan presented to Kim Jong Un gifts they prepared with sincerity.

Kim Jong Un expressed thanks to them.

Xi Jinping hosted a grand banquet at the Great Hall of the People, warmly welcoming Kim Jong Un's visit to China.

On March 27, Kim Jong Un visited an exhibition house showing the signal successes made by the Chinese Academy of Sciences after the 18th CPC Congress.

He was accompanied by Choe Ryong Hae, Pak Kwang Ho, Ri Su Yong, Kim Yong Chol, Ri Yong Ho and other suite members.

He was also accompanied by Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang, Cai Qi and Song Tao.

He looked round the exhibits, being briefed on the successes made in the field of natural science and technology such as nuclear physics, outer space, agriculture and energy.

He made the following entry in the visitors' book: We can grasp the mightiness of China, a great neighbouring country. More excellent scientific successes will be achieved under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of China. Kim Jong Un on March 27, 2018.

That day, the Supreme Leader and his wife were invited to a luncheon hosted by Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan at Yangyuanzhai of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

After the luncheon, Kim Jong Un exchanged good-byes with Xi Jinping.

He left Beijing in the afternoon of March 27 after winding up his unofficial visit to China.

He was warmly seen off by Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang and Song Tao at Beijing Railway Station.

Song Tao, Lu Dongfu and Li Jinjun travelled together with Kim Jong Un to Dandong Railway Station to see him off.

Leaving Dandong Railway Station, the Supreme Leader sent a message of thanks to Xi Jinping for having accorded cordial hospitality with utmost sincerity to him in token of warm comradely friendship and friendly feelings during his China visit.

KCNA

To Uphold Country with Practical Ability

The news of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un’s China visit has evoked great excitement.

We are always filled with yearning for him as he dedicates himself to the people’s wellbeing. And this time, he visited the People’s Republic of China to render distinguished services for the country and people.

The news of his first foreign tour gives us firmer confidence in victory.

It is my resolution to uphold the Supreme Leader, who exalted the honour of our country, with knowledge.

Kim Un Jin, postgraduate student at Kim Hyong Jik University of Education

Japan Had Better Address Its Human Rights Abuses

Recently, Japan is getting more frantic with anti-DPRK human rights campaign.

The vice-representative of the Japanese mission in Geneva asserted at the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council that north Korea continues developing nukes and missiles disregarding human rights, and cried out for submitting a "resolution" against the DPRK.

At the 62nd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Japan talked such nonsense that the number of sexual slaves totalling 200 000 is groundless and that Japan contributed to the peace and security of the world after the Second World War.

It is the revelation of impudence and moral baseness of Japan.

Japan has no right and justification to talk about human rights as it is the worst human rights abuser.

In the last century it invaded Asian nations, being keen on hegemony, and perpetrated the worst unethical crimes unprecedented in the human history of wars.

In Korea alone, it cruelly killed innocent Koreans numbering more than one million and forcibly took millions of young and middle-aged Koreans to toilsome places and battlefields and reduced 200 000 women to sexual slaves for the imperial Japanese army.

Instead of admitting and making an apology and reparation for the crimes, schoolgirls of Japan, to say nothing of its governmental officials, are making no scruple of talking such reckless remarks that the issue of "comfort women" is a voluntary prostitution for money and that they should deem it an honour to become sexual slaves for the imperial Japanese army.

The present human rights situation in Japan is very deplorable.

It is Japan that runs brothels for old women seeking abnormal sexual pleasure in the heart of Tokyo.

Worse still, Japan went the lengths of regarding the cries of children at nurseries in 42 cities, wards, towns and villages which amount to 70 percent in Tokyo Metropolis, as noises and giving legal justification to it.

As revealed recently in Japanese society, it is a commonplace that parents beat their children to death.

Japan, whose society is as ever plagued with crimes against human rights, is still in the dock as a war criminal state.

This being a hard fact, the vice-representative was not ashamed of saying this or that over human rights. It shows only the ethics concepts and political and moral degeneration of Japanese society which is extremely degenerated and where crimes are rampant.

Japan should be well aware that its impudent human rights smear campaign disregarding the reality will bring only disgrace to itself.

Japan had better address its human rights abuses, first of all.

KCNA

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju Inspects Industrial Establishments in Tokchon Area

Premier Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, made a field survey of several units in the Tokchon area.

Going round different parts of the Sungni Motor Complex whose officials and workers are speeding up the production of new-type trucks, he encouraged them waging a strenuous onward drive while overcoming obstacles and difficulties by their own efforts and technology.

At a field consultative meeting, measures were taken to settle the matters arising in accelerating the modernization of the complex and develop world-level trucks in Korean style.

He also inspected the Tokchon Coal-mining Machine Factory and the Wolbong Coal Mine of the Tokchon Area Coal-Mining Complex and discussed the issues of producing more equipment and small tools and increasing coal production.

KCNA

Commerce in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Commerce in the DPRK is socialist commerce. It is in essence supply work for the people.

As required by the socialist commerce of serving the people by satisfying their material and cultural demands, the country is giving full play to the superiority of this type of commerce on the principle of enhancing its role as supplier.

The commerce of the country can be divided into state commerce and cooperative commerce according to the forms of ownership and into selling of consumer goods, public catering and procurement according to the economic missions of products and forms of organization of their circulation.

The state commerce plays an important role in increasing production quickly and improving the material and cultural standard of living of the working people by linking production with consumption on a planned basis. It also contributes to the fast development of industry and agriculture and the strengthening of the worker-peasant alliance by realizing the economic link between urban and rural areas and between industry and agriculture.

The cooperative commerce consists of producers’ cooperatives, fishery cooperatives and direct retail stores run by some cooperative farms.

The supply of consumer goods to the working people constitutes an important part in the internal division of the socialist commerce.

Pomminryon Issues Joint Resolution

The North, South and Overseas Headquarters of the Pan-National Alliance for Korea's Reunification (Pomminryon) adopted a joint resolution at the 18th meeting of its co-chairmen held on March 25.

The resolution stated as follows:

1. Pomminryon will spur the improvement of the north-south ties under the uplifted banner of By Our Nation Itself.

In particular, all the valuable achievements of the June 15 era will be recovered and the June 15 era of independent reunification will be revived to further advance into the second June 15 era in the spirit of By Our Nation Itself.

Pomminryon will resolutely reject all the sycophantic and traitorous moves aimed at leaving the interests of the nation and the destiny of the fellow countrymen at the tender mercy of outsiders and actively struggle against any sinister attempt on the part of outsiders to estrange the fellow countrymen and foster confrontation between them by creating artificial block in the improvement of the north-south ties and seeking interference and arbitrary practices.

2. Pomminryon will take the lead in the efforts to actively foster the atmosphere for national reconciliation and reunification.

It will play a pace-setter role to promote great unity of the nation and fan up the hot air of independent reunification by carrying forward the spirit of the historic April Joint Conference of Representatives of Political Parties and Public Organizations in North and South Korea.

In particular, it will ensure successful events common to the nation on major occasions this significant year, including the anniversaries of the north-south declarations, and thus demonstrate the will for great unity of the nation and the independent reunification.

3. Pomminryon will lead the nationwide movement for ensuring lasting and durable peace on the Korean peninsula.

It will as ever conduct in the van the nationwide movement for rejecting all acts of war and confrontation that threaten the destiny of the nation and ensuring lasting and durable peace on the Korean peninsula.

4. Pomminryon will strengthen itself and further enhance its function and role.

It will go deep among the people of all social standings, breathe the same breath with them, strengthen regional and lower organizations and steadily expand its ranks, and further consolidate itself through diverse practices for independent reunification and peace against war.

The resolution appealed to all its members to more dynamically advance towards the eminence of independent reunification with faith and optimism about sure victory.

KCNA

Meeting of Pomminryon Co-Chairmen Held

The 18th meeting of co-chairmen of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea's Reunification (Pomminryon) was held on March 25 by a way of exchanging facsimile messages among its north, south and overseas headquarters.

It discussed an action program of Pomminryon for glorifying this significant year as an eventful year to be specially recorded in the national history, under the banner of national independence.

A report was made at the meeting.

It noted that Pomminryon has made great efforts to positively arouse all Koreans to the struggle for peace against war and realize solidarity and unity of the pro-reunification patriotic forces.

It clarified the following tasks and ways for speeding up the grand march for reunification to glorify this significant year as an eventful year to be specially recorded in the national history with redoubled courage and belief in the rosy future of the nation and the country's reunification:

Pomminryon will vigorously promote the improvement of the north-south relations under the banner of By Our Nation Itself.

It will stand in the van to positively create an atmosphere for national reconciliation and reunification.

It will as ever lead the nationwide movement for rejecting all the war and confrontation moves that threaten the destiny of the fellow countrymen and ensuring lasting and durable peace on the Korean peninsula.

The report stressed the need for Pomminryon to fully discharge its responsibility and role before the times and the nation as the vanguard for independent reunification and standard-bearer of great national unity.

A joint resolution was adopted at the meeting.

KCNA

Anti-DPRK "Resolution on Situation of Human Rights" Rejected

The Permanent Mission of the DPRK to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva issued the following press statement with regard to forcible adoption of the "resolution on the situation of human rights in the DPRK" (A/HRC/37/L.29) submitted by the European Union (EU) and Japan at the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council on March 23, 2018:

The DPRK Permanent Mission resolutely and totally rejects the "resolution" framed by the US and other hostile forces in pursuit of their political purpose to tarnish the image of the DPRK and isolate and stifle Korean-style socialism.

The "resolution", to all intents and purposes, is another criminal document running through with falsified fabrications as well as a product of the hostile policy persistently pursued by the US in its attempt to overthrow the system of the DPRK.

It is the universal principle of the international community and the lifeline of the activities of the UN human rights bodies to reject politicization, selectivity and double standards of human rights.

Herein lies the main reason that the majority of the developing countries and many others opposed the forcible adoption of the "resolution" this time, while strongly advocating the adherence to non-politicization, non-selectivity and impartiality of human rights.

This notwithstanding, the EU as a group of typical human rights violators and A-class criminal state Japan submitted the "draft resolution" against the DPRK to the UN Human Rights Council. It is, indeed, an insult to and mockery of the international community.

Pressure of any kind will never work on the DPRK and there will be no bigger miscalculation for the US and other hostile forces than to estimate that they could gain something from the adoption of the hackneyed "resolution" against the DPRK.

If the UN Human Rights Council is truly interested in the protection and promotion of human rights, it should, above all, call into question in due course the egregious human rights abuses prevalent in the US and other Western countries and the A-class crimes against humanity committed by Japan in Korea, Asia and several other countries of the world, including the kidnapping and forcible drafting of 8.4 million Korean people, one million genocide and the sexual slavery imposed upon 200 000 women. It should also demand the withdrawal of the brutal and inhumane US-led sanctions which obstruct in every way the enjoyment of human rights by the people of the DPRK.

We take great pride and dignity in socialism of our style chosen with conviction and consolidated and developed by our people themselves and in the system of providing true human rights.

The DPRK attaches importance to the international cooperation for protection and promotion of genuine human rights. However, it will never tolerate any slightest attempt to seek ulterior political purpose under the pretext of "human rights issues" but will defend to the end the people-centred socialist system of our style.

KCNA

New DPRK Stamps Issued

The DPRK issued new stamps (one sheet) showing its tea culture.

Seen in the tea leaf-shaped sheet are three stamps introducing Unjong tea (Kangnyong black and green teas) and Kaesong Koryo Insam (ginseng) tea against the pictures of the Kangnyong Unjong Tea-growing District and some contents of history book Samguksagi (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms), which summarizes the tea plantation started from the period of the Three Kingdoms (early 3rd century B.C.—mid-7th century A.D.) in Korea.

The tea culture of Korea associated with the wisdom of ancestors has been brought into full bloom in the era of the Workers' Party of Korea to be conducive to promoting the health and emotional life of people.

KCNA

Carrying Forward China-North Korea Friendship Benefits Both Sides

Global Times
Published: 2018/3/28 14:13:40

Kim Jong-un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, paid an unofficial visit to China March 25 to 28, and was warmly received by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese president. The two leaders held candid and friendly talks, stressing the need to inherit and carry forward the traditional China-North Korea friendship. Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula were also top on the agenda.

Undeniably, the Xi-Kim meeting opened a new chapter in friendly China-North Korea relations.

China and North Korea are neighboring countries with unusual ties. In the past century, the two countries were mutually dependent and stood together through all the miseries in Asia's history. Their collaboration in wars contributed to their unusual friendship.

The outside world also regards China and North Korea as a community of common interests. Given the sophisticated geopolitical environment in Northeast Asia, the historic traditional Beijing-Pyongyang bonds and their realistic political and economic ties have been a focus of widespread attention, and have affected the way other forces assess the regional situation.

Despite trials and hardships, the basic elements of friendly China-North Korea ties are solid and unshakable.

To begin with, Beijing and Pyongyang respect each other and are equal partners. The China-North Korea state-to-state relationship is led by their party-to-party relationship. Their friendly ties have a solid political basis. The Chinese party, government and mainstream society respect the North Korean people's political choice, respect North Korea's spirit of independence and self-reliance, and firmly oppose other countries' attempts to interfere in North Korea's political system. The two countries have a profound basis for friendship and immense room for cooperation.

Due to historical and geopolitical factors, Beijing-Pyongyang ties have been cemented strategically. The two countries' leaders have made strenuous efforts to strengthen their strategic partnership. Friendly China-North Korea relations carry great significance despite changing focal points in Northeast Asia. It turns out that maintaining a friendly relationship between China and North Korea is an important strategy to protect their interests.

Friendly Beijing-Pyongyang ties inject positive energy and ensure the strategic stability of Northeast Asia, which can enhance regional balance and eliminate some unrealistic motives. Stability paves the way for better communications and solutions to problems as well as serving as an effective method to prevent risks.

The international community should support such visits - relatives-style interaction between the two countries across the Yalu River - as it may highly likely become a strong driving force to lead the peninsula toward reconciliation and prosperity from the current deadlock. In the foreseeable future, friendly ties between Beijing and Pyongyang will undoubtedly be the most stable channel to help ease tensions on the peninsula, which should be cherished and supported by various forces that truly care about peace there.

Some international forces have been attempting to obstruct and undermine China-North Korea relations. They affix a variety of labels to the friendship between Beijing and Pyongyang, and spread rumors that distort bilateral relations. However, the deep roots of the China-North Korea relationship are solid beyond their imagination. The Xi-Kim meeting will renew their understanding of the bilateral relationship. It's believed those with a sincere hope for peace and stability on the peninsula will welcome today's China-North Korea relations.

It is hoped that the traditional friendship between Beijing and Pyongyang will continue to flourish, serve the interests of people from both sides as well as regional peace and stability. It is believed that the bilateral friendly relationship will surely keep moving forward in the future.

North Korea has not only consolidated its independence and autonomy over the years, but also demonstrated tenacity and considerable progress in economic and social development. China and North Korea, who once fought side by side in war, should be partners in jointly establishing a safe and prosperous community.

Ghana-US Military Cooperation Agreement: Letter to Parliament

Source: Seth Kwame Awuku, Esq | ethawuku.sa@gmail.com
Date: 28-03-2018 Time: 11:03:08:pm

Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Ocquaye

Dear Mr. Speaker

Please permit me to write on a matter that fundamentally hinges on our national sovereignty: on the Ghana-United States military co-operation Agreement which, the Trump administration, per its Ambassador to Ghana, purports to give 20 million dollars a year to Ghana, in return.This offer, Mr Speaker, and the contents therein, I beg to say, most respectfully, is distasteful to the worth of our national sovereignty.

I do not write to dare challenge, as a non-state actor, the United States security interest,   or any nation-state, in International Relations. However, in the contemporary Global Political system, it is not only state actors, like the United States or any Nation-State that play an important role in International Affairs. In their book, In Search of Theory, Columbia University Press, New York, 1981, at page 68, Mansbach and Vasquez posit that “Actors in Global Politics may consist of any Individual or group that is able to contend for the disposition of a political stake” I dare to assert that many individuals in society have a stake in this international security agreement with this dominant power in world affairs: the United States of America.

For us, Mr Speaker we have no significant problems of national security affecting our International Relations. For us, our high politics of International Diplomacy lie in moving Ghana beyond aid.

Indeed, President Akufo-Addo’s summit with President Qattara of the Ivory Coast was to find ways to add value to our cocoa and how best to price our cocoa on the international market, so was President Akufo- Addo’s summit with President Macron of France was to assert in no uncertain terms a demand for fair trade with the west to move Ghana beyond aid, so was our business delegation led by the Vice President Bawumia to China to seek for trade and investment from that country. Currently, Ghana is playing an active role to bring the secretariat of the new Free trade agreement for Africa to Ghana. Mr Speaker our International diplomacy in International Relations is characterized by trade and investment, and not characterized by war and security. 

We know what constitutes our national interest, Mr Speaker. We are not a “Banana Republic”. We are Pan-Africanists, and a serious leader in African, including Black American Affairs. We led the whole independence movement in 1957 and succeeded in encouraging 16 Africans countries alone in the 1960s to achieve their independence including Nigeria in October 1960. Indeed, the independence movement that we in Ghana began in the 1950’s South Africa ended in the 1990’s

At the United Nations level, Ghana has also produced one of the finest Secretary Generals in the person of Dr Kofi Annan- an excellent Secretary General who served that world body with distinction. Continentally speaking also, we dare say that the role that India's Mahatma Gandhi played in India, President Roosevelt played in the United States, Prime Minister Winston Churchill played in the United Kingdom, Mao Tse Tung played in China and Lenin in Russia, Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah played in continental Africa. It is pertinent Mr Speaker, that we raise the standard in our negotiations with the Americans and jealously guard our sovereignty and our national interest as the Black Star of Africa.

True, when I first heard the debate in the Ghana-United States military co-operation Agreement in the media, my initial reaction was that of political actors doing the usual politicking. I was wrong. I needed to study it. I became curious and solicitous... I searched and obtained a copy of the agreement. I held my chin and studied it thoroughly and solicitously.

Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect to your office, after a thorough reading, my initial reaction was that President Donald Trump, might have personally written the Ghana –United States military co-operation Agreement under his catchphrase, America first. I was knocked for six, speechless, and thunderstruck by the lopsidedness in favour of the Americans

I wondered, which individuals were in our Negotiation team during the negotiations with the Americans; I pondered, where was our senior military intelligence officers, senior military historians and former Chiefs of Defence to advise and strategize for our lead Negotiator. I quizzed, was our lead Negotiator abreast with our previous security agreements with the United States since the time of Brigadier Fitzgerald in July 1942 when we were a colony? I reasoned, did our lead Negotiator review the Arms Purchase Agreement in 1972 with the United States?I queried, was our lead negotiator aware of the Military Training Assistance Agreement in December 1985 and February 1986  with the Americans? What knowledge did our lead negotiator have concerning the Ecomog arrangement with the United States, the Africa Crisis Response Initiative agreement in 2005, the arrangement for the establishment and use of United States support capabilities the current security agreement in 1998 and 2015? These are pertinent questions to address when entering a negotiating leading to an agreement with the United States, Mr Speaker.

Further, how much institutional memory did our lead negotiator have going into discussion and negotiation with the Americans, I held my chin and thought deeply. Were we negotiating from a position of knowledge and strength with our American counterparts? I scratched my heard, in disbelief.

May I ask your good office as head of our second arm of government and most honourably, Mr Speaker, that we have a National discourse in the interest of our country, not a discourse based on political equalization? Mr Speaker, may we recall the Minority to Parliament for a full national enquiry devoid of partisanship?  May we in the spirit of nationalism which, our founding fathers so established for us, search for the greatest truth, not a one-sided truth?

This is the kind of fundamental questions thatJohn Stuart Mills, an English Parliamentarian and  Philosopher writing in the 18thcentury England was asking when he stated in one of his leading books, entitled On Liberty with these salient words“the only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject, is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this; nor is it in the nature of human intellect to become wise in any other manner.”(see, On Liberty, by John Stuart Mill. EDITION: 4th ed. PUBLISHED: London: Longman, Roberts & Green, 1869)

At this juncture, may I respectfully invite, Mr Speaker to some contradictions and ambiguity between the Preamble and the articles in the current ratified agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Ghana.

On the one hand, the agreement recognizes in paragraph 3 as follows: “… Recognizing that such cooperation is based on full respect for the sovereignty of each Party;”In Article 3 on the other hand, the agreement seems to contradict the intent of the preamble namely respecting our sovereignty. Referring to the United States the agreement stipulates that “Ghana shall accord to military personnel and civilian personnel,  the privileges, exemptions, and immunities equivalent to those accorded to the administrative and technical staff of a diplomatic mission under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961”

How can the preamble state that we are a sovereign state but accord American military personnel the privileges and exemptions reserved for diplomats for military reasons on our territory? For example American military personnel will not need visas and permits to enter our country even if they are hundreds of thousand that enters our country at a time. Respectfully, Sir, our founding fathers will roll in their graves when they read that we have given exemptions and privileges reserved for our military, citizenry and diplomats to the Americans.

Further, in article 5, it states that “Ghana shall give unimpeded access to and use of agreed facilities and areas to the United States forces”  How can we monitor that the US is in compliance with International Environmental Laws if we give unimpeded access of our facilities to the United States?.

Article 7 of the agreement adds that: “United States forces are hereby authorized to preposition and store defence equipment, supplies, and materials (hereinafter referred to as prepositioned materiel) at agreed facilities and areas” What constitutes to store defence “materials” at agreed facilities and areas? Will America’s materials to be stored in our country expose Ghana to environmental and health hazards? Will Ghana risk exposure to the toxic waste material and depleted Uranium like in Puerto Rico and Iraq causing illnesses and sufferings to many in those countries?

Similarly, Articles 15 makes our nationals helpless and at the mercy of the United States government when a US officer commits an offence in Ghana. It states as follows:“Claims by third parties for damages or losses caused by military personnel and civilian personnel shall be resolved by the United States Government in accordance with United States laws and regulations”.

Indeed, in an article dated December 6, 2006, in the Guardian Newspaper with the caption, American Soldier jailed in the Philippines, a United States Marine officer stationed in the Philippines was sentenced to 40 years for raping a Filipino woman. Can our ladies, in Ghana, in the unfortunate event of being raped or abused be able to bring an action in Ghana under this agreement? The answer is no.

Worst still, our Courts are rendered toothless and made impotent by the linguistic construction in article 18. The said article reads as follows “ Any dispute regarding the application, implementation, or interpretation of this Agreement, or its Implementing Arrangements, shall be resolved at the lowest level possible and, as necessary, elevated to the Executive Agents for consideration and resolution. Those disputes that cannot be resolved by the Executive Agents shall be referred to the Parties for consultation and resolution, as appropriate, and shall not be referred to any national or international court, tribunal, or similar body, or to any third party for settlement, unless otherwise mutually agreed.”

Respectfully Mr Speaker, how can our laws and Courts be weakened in the face of potential US  environmental degradation, sexual abuses and human rights violations in Ghana?

In an article published in the Nation Newspaper dated January 24, 2018, with the caption: The United States has military bases in 80 countries; All must close, by Alice Slater, the author writes that in a conference held  in Baltimore University marking Martin Luther King’s day, peace and Environmental activities from every region around the globe shared their experiences, protesting the devastating environmental and health cases, which are wreaking havoc to health and wellbeing in so many countries. Slater goes a step further and states that,“from Agent Orange in Vietnam, depleted uranium in Iraq and ammunition dumps and firing ranges in Vieques, Puerto Rico, to toxic brew of poisons along the Potomac River, communities and soldiers as well as children born subsequent to exposure to these toxic wastes are suffering in broad range of illnesses and inherited damages while the US government ducks any accountability for harm caused by its mindless and reckless burial of untreated toxic waste”

We must! Mr. Speaker reject this security agreement and its accompanying 20 million dollars a year and demand a higher figure in the amount of 10 billion dollars from Congress in the event of any environmental disaster and human rights abuses to our nationals.In addition, we ask Congress and the State Department to provide us with modern technological agricultural practices; a 50% budgetary support in education for the next 25 years as well as technical support in modern technological know–how to process our Gold and diamond and mineral resources. Only then, Mr Speaker shall the citizenry see the United States as demonstrating good faith and a win-win attitude to enter into an agreement with the Black Stars of Africa.

Ghana Masses Rally Against US Military Deal

The Independent
March 28, 2018

Ghana and the United States are working to forge closer ties between their armed forces but both have denied rumours that Washington is planning to set up military bases in the West African nation

Accra, Ghana | AFP |

Thousands of people took to the streets of Accra, Ghana’s capital, on Wednesday to protest against a controversial military deal with Washington which was passed by parliament last week.

The agreement was approved by President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government on Friday but has come under heavy criticism from the opposition who say it undermines the country’s sovereignty.

Ghana and the United States are working to forge closer ties between their armed forces but both have denied rumours that Washington is planning to set up military bases in the West African nation.

“This is an insensitive government,” said protestor Yaa Yaa Abban. “We’ll resist this deal with the US because it does not favour us.”

Protestors wearing the black and red of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) carried signs reading: “Akufo-Addo must not sell Ghana,” and “Incompetent government, incompetent agreement”.

In a tweet supporting the protest, former president John Mahama said: “I join in declaring #GhanaFirst as my compatriots and other democratic forces converge to demonstrate their opposition to the Ghana/US military agreement.”

On Tuesday a high-ranking NDC member, Koku Anyidoho, was reportedly called in for questioning by police after a radio interview on Monday in which he said there would be a “civilian coup d’etat” over the deal.

Such remarks are “treasonable”, Information Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said in a statement on Tuesday.

Last week, the US Embassy in Accra said Washington had “not requested, nor does it plan to establish a military base or bases in Ghana”.

It added: “This year, the United States of America is investing over $20 million (16.3 million euros) in training and equipment for the Ghanaian armed forces.”

Joint exercises were planned for this year “which require access to Ghanaian bases by US participants and those from other nations when included,” it added.

In the past decade, the United States has expanded its military presence in Africa, ostensibly to stop the spread of Islamist extremism by groups such as Islamic State, Boko Haram and Al Shabab on the continent.

Ghana, a major producer of gold and cocoa, prides itself as being a beacon of stability in a region blighted by coups, dictators and corruption.

We Won’t Allow American ‘Shit’ to Fill Our ‘Hole’ – Hassan Ayariga

Hassan Ayariga(middle) is leader of the All People’s Congress (APC)

“We are living in are ‘shithole’ country, yes! We are living in a shithole country, but we don’t want American’s shit to fill our hole. Americans should take their America and we Ghanaians will take our Ghana. Is that a problem?

These are words of founder and leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga.

Mr. Ayariga was speaking at Ghana First Patriotic Front (GFPF)-led demonstration organised to kick against the controversial Defence Cooperation Agreement between Ghana and the United States of America.

According to Mr. Ayariga, the Memorandum of Understanding for defence cooperation, which was approved by Parliament last Friday, amounted to the sale of Ghana’s sovereignty.

The former Presidential candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC), offered to pay the $20 million being invested by the United State into the Ghana Armed Forces for the defence pact to be cancelled.

“They think they can sell Ghana for $20m. They should come and I will give them $20m to cancel the deal. If they are hungry we are not hungry.”

Mr. Ayariga also slammed President Nana Akufo-Addo for allowing the deal to go through with a recourse to the national interest.

“A normal person will not sign this. When the American soldiers are coming to Ghana they will not go through our security. Is it Nana who signed this deal? The Nana Addo who calls himself a freedom fighter. We don’t want Americans in our country.” He said.

The demonstration which had thousands of protesters was attended by Former Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur and other bigwigs of the National Democratic Congress – Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okodzeto Ablakwa, MP for South Dayi, Rockson Dafiamekpor and the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia among others.

Thousands in Ghana March Against Deal With US Military

BY JOHN BOWDEN
The Hill
03/28/18 04:21 PM EDT  44

Thousands of protesters marched in the streets of Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday to protest a deal between the Trump administration and Ghana's government that would expand military cooperation.

The New York Times reported that thousands of marchers demanded an end to a deal struck last week between top Ghanaian officials and their American counterparts. The deal would have the U.S. invest $20 million into Ghana's military and greatly expand U.S. soldiers' authority on Ghanaian soil.

U.S. troops would be given access to the country's radio frequencies and one airport runway, as well as have immunity and receive tax exemptions for military equipment imports, according to the Times.

Some of the provisions, like legal immunity, would be reciprocal for Ghanaian troops attending military training abroad in the U.S., embassy officials told the Times.

Despite this, protesters and the country's opposition party accused the ruling New Patriotic Party of selling out Ghana's sovereignty. The controversy comes as the U.S. relationship with African allies is being tested after reports that President Trump referred to some African nations as "shithole countries" earlier this year.

“Having partaken in the struggle and fight towards our independence, we can never sit unconcerned when it comes to an agreement which has the tendency of compromising our sovereignty and integrity,” said National Union of Ghana Students President Frank Amoako Hene, who joined the protesters Wednesday.

“We are saying that President [Nana] Akufo-Addo should listen to the people of this country,” added Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of Ghana's Parliament. “He is not co-president with President Trump of the U.S.A. He is the president of Ghana.”

American officials, however, stressed the limitations of the authority granted to U.S. troops under the deal in a statement to the Times.

The deal “does not give the United States carte blanche to come in and act unrestricted in Ghana,” the U.S. Embassy in Ghana said. It added that Ghana is “recognized as a global leader — capable of maintaining its own security and perpetuating peace and security in the region and around the world.”

Ghanaians Protest Over Expanded Military Co-operation Deal With U.S.

Kwasi Kpodo

ACCRA (Reuters) - Thousands of people protested in Ghana’s capital Accra on Wednesday against the expansion of its defense cooperation with the United States, in a rare public display of opposition to the growing foreign military presence in West Africa.

Demonstrators carry banners during a protest in Ghana's capital Accra against the expansion of its defence cooperation with the United States, Ghana March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko
Demonstrators blowing vuvuzelas and beating drums filled Accra’s business district, holding placards criticizing a new deal with Washington that they say threatens Ghana’s sovereignty.

“As a right-thinking citizen, I am here to fight for my country. I am against selling our peace and security for $20 million,” said Gifty Yankson, a 49-year-old trader.

“They (the American military) become a curse everywhere they are, and I am not ready to mortgage my security,” Yankson said.

Demonstrators carry banners as they march during a protest against the expansion of its defence cooperation with the United States, in Accra, Ghana March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko
Police estimated the crowd size at about 3,500 protesters. While officers in riot gear were present, no violence was reported.

International powers including the United States and France are looking to extend their presence in the remote Sahel region in particular, where al Qaeda and Islamic State militants have gained a strong foothold in recent years.

But Washington is struggling to mend its image in Africa, which was damaged by reports President Donald Trump described African nations as “shithole countries” in a discussion on immigration. The White House later denied he used that language.

Under the deal approved by Ghana’s parliament last week, the United States will invest around $20 million in training and equipment for the Ghanaian military this year. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the parliamentary vote.

In return, the U.S. military will be allowed to deploy troops and import military equipment tax-free, use an airport runway that meets U.S. standards, and have free access to Ghana’s radio spectrum.

Ghana has had a long-standing military and trade ties with the United States, but many say the latest agreement was a step too far.

Responding to local press reports concerning the deal, the U.S. Embassy in Accra underscored in a statement last week that it had no plans to establish a military base in Ghana.

It said the existing 20-year-old cooperation agreement “does not cover the current range and volume of bilateral exercises and assistance.”

Four elite U.S. soldiers were killed in Niger alongside local troops in an Islamist ambush in October, sparking a fierce debate back home about covert U.S. actions in West Africa.

The United States has about 7,200 U.S. Defense Department personnel, including soldiers, stationed in Africa. Over half of those are stationed at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, with the remaining personnel scattered across 32 other smaller locations.

‘Ghana First’ Demonstrations Hits Accra Over US Military Deal

Source: graphic.com.gh

A ‘Ghana First’ demonstration opposing a recent military cooperation agreement with the United States of America, which has been ratified by parliament, is underway in Accra.

Organizers, led by a group calling itself the Ghana First Patriotic Front (GFPF), say this is only a first step to ask the government to back out of the ‘lopsided’ deal as it is inimical to the security and stability of Ghana.

A number of opposition politicians have joined in the demonstration, which started from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and headed towards central of Accra.

Former Vice-President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur and others who have declared interest in running for National Democratic Congress presidential candidacy, including Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Sylvester Mensah and Prof. Joshua Alabi as well as parliamentarians Samuel Richard Quashigah, Okudzeto Ablakwa, James Kludze Avedzi and Rockson Dafeamekpor are all participating.

Hassan Ayariga of the All Peoples Party, Bernard Mornah, Chairman of the People’s National Convention, Socialist Forum convener Kwesi Pratt Jnr. and Bede Ziedin are among participants.

Some of the participants in the Ghana First demonstration are bearing placards saying "Ghana not for sale", "Ghana is better than $20 million", and "Why would you betray Ghana for money" among others.

Ghana CID Demands Official Copy of Anyidoho’s ‘Treason’ Tape

March 28, 2018
Citifmonline

The Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has officially written to Accra-based Happy FM to produce an official copy of a recording in which the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, is believed to have made comments deemed treasonable.

The host of the show on which the comments were made, Mr Kwame Affrifa, has also been invited by the police to aid in their investigations.

Mr. Anyidoho was picked up at the International Press centre on Tuesday to assist the police with investigations and spent last night in the custody of the police after being charged with treason.

His Oyarifa residence in Accra was also searched, before he was moved from the police headquarters and sent to an unknown location after he was refused bail.

It is still unclear where Mr. Anyidoho is being held currently, as his lawyers demand answers from the police.

Koku Anyidoho, in an interview on Accra-based Happy FM, indicated that President Akufo-Addo will be overthrown because of the ratification of the controversial defence cooperation agreement between Ghana and the US.

The deal was ratified by Parliament despite the resistance of some sections of the public, which Anyidoho believes, will spark a “social revolution” in the country.

“There will be a civilian coup d’état. There will be a social revolution. We [NDC] are starting it on Wednesday. The movement is starting on Wednesday. Nana Addo will have sleepless nights. He will suffer diarrhea. He said he wanted to be president, but we will make sure he will be fed up on the seat,’’ he added.

‘External forces’ blocking Anyidoho’s bail – Lawyer

Meanwhile, Anyidoho’s lawyer, Victor Kojogah Adawudu, is suspecting that the influence of some ‘external forces’ is responsible for the refusal to grant his client bail.

According to Adawudu, although the charge of treason brought against Anyidoho is a bailable offence, the security agencies have refused to grant his client that option.

“…we felt that there might be some interference coming from somewhere,” he said on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday.
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By: Zoe Abu-Baidoo/citifmonline.com/Ghana