Parliament shuts doors to Ghana-US deal protesters

Scores of protesters who had wanted to enter the premises of Parliament on Friday morning to register their displeasure for the proposed ratification of a defence cooperation between Ghana and US by Parliament were denied access.

This was because, the security said they had no permission to enter Parliament House and that they were not given adequate notice concerning the protests, hence their decision to lock them out.

The development led to some chaos at the main entrance of Parliament.

The group, led by the Economic Fighters League, wore red armbands and demanded to be allowed into the premises and into the chamber to observe proceedings and also express their disapproval of the military deal.

Related: Ghana-US defence deal; NDC leaders storm parliament

The protesters engaged in loud chants and repeated the “resist the oppressors’ rule” line in the Ghana national anthem.

“The power you (Parliamentarians] have came from us , we gave you the power to represent us so under no circumstance can you become more powerful than us, it is as simple as that," Ernesto Yeboah, a member of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and one of the leaders of the protesters told journalists.

"So whether they like it or not, we will enter the Parliament House today, we will watch our Members of Parliament, we will observe proceedings, nobody should give up, this is just the beginning of the struggle in this country,” he said. 

They said they disapproved of the defence cooperation between Ghana and US.

Read also: Lawyer to challenge Ghana-US military deal at Supreme Court

“Are we holding guns? On what basis are we allowed from entering Parliament to have a sight of the proceedings in parliament…We are going to enter, we are going to sit and observe the proceedings, this is about the sovereignty of our country,” he said.