The Supreme Court has handed the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo seven days to file her written response (statement of case) in a suit challenging Ghana’s military cooperation agreement with the United States of America.
The Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Brogya Genfi is praying the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional, the agreement reached by Ghana and United States.
The defense agreement allows the US military and civilian personnel access to certain facilities in Ghana and provide them privileges, exemptions and immunities equivalent to those accorded to the administrative and technical staff of Diplomatic missions under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961.
Ghana is also expected to benefit from an aid package in excess of $20 million from the USA in the areas of training and grants to the Police and Military.
But, in the suit, Mr. Genfi said the agreement is invalid because the President of Ghana failed to execute the agreement as prescribed by Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution before sending it to Parliament for ratification.
A Principal State Attorney who represented the AG on Thursday made an application for extension of time to enable the AG file her response.
Justice Gabriel Pwamang, who is hearing the case as a sole Judge handed the AG seven days to file same.
Meanwhile, the court has indefinitely adjourned a similar suit filed by Builsa South MP Dr. Clement Apaak challenging the agreement. This was because Dr. Apaak had not been notified of today’s hearing.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Wilberforce Asare
