Ghana, Your Beloved Country Is Free Forever - Until USAFRICOM Arrives

Remembering the bittersweet words of their nationalistic leader Kwame Nkrumah: “Ghana, your beloved country, is free forever!”; thousands of Ghanaians are again taking to the streets of this western African nation. But this time, instead of demanding freedom and fighting for independence from Great Britain, their protests are directed against a different and more militarized foe: the controversial and ever expanding United States military under the guise of U.S. Africa Command, better known as USAFRICOM.

With signs reading: “Ghana Not For Sale!” and “Not In Our Back Yard!,” Ghanaians also recalled how “freedom is not something that one people can bestow on another as a gift, but must be claimed as their own and none can keep it from them.” Consequently, they’re also challenging the U.S. military’s carrot-and-stick-approach. A carrot-and-stick approach that was not only pushed through Parliament with great divisiveness, but had strings attached in the sum of $20 million in military grants for the use of an armed base.

Better to Misgovern Yourself Than Be Governed by Others
Although Ghana and the U.S. have long ties, protesters say the agreement gives away too much power and territory. Wondering who’ll be displaced by the new base is just one worry. Others think Ghana will become a target. In other words, they’ve recognized how U.S. and European outposts in Africa, like Somalia, Niger, Libya, Chad, Burkino Faso, and Mali, have increased civil unrest and war. Used to launch armed interventions, drone strikes, and even military coups, nor do Ghanaians want the Gold Coast to turn red.

Neither do they want another promise to backfire. Indeed, Nkrumah had the makings of a great African leader, especially with his campaign of positive action inspired by Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent non-cooperation. But once independence was achieved and in power, and after new roads and schools and health facilities were built, Ghana gradually turned into a one-party state with Nkrumah as “president for life.” After two assassination attempts and increasing human-rights abuses, Nkrumah faced a coup and went into exile.

Ghanaians fear the same may happen with USAFRICOM’s new military base. For instance, some warn it will be used to launch more military campaigns across Africa. Given that U.S. military and corporate contractors may have also bribed elected officials, the last thing Ghanaians want is a Pan-AFRICOM to replace Nkrumah’s Pan-African dream. Many, to be sure, are concerned how USAFRICOM’s continental spread and new militarized federation sometimes appears to be more dictatorial than democratic.

Neo-Colonialism American and CIA Style
Such U.S. control wouldn’t be new, however. The Takoradi Route used to ship U.S. arms and military equipment through Ghana to the Middle East during World War Two had far reaching ramifications in Ghana’s political and social life. So too did the CIA and what it knew or didn’t know about the coup and did or did not do to support it. In other words, supporters of Nkrumah-and there are still many-maintain that it was the CIA that toppled Nkrumah’s rule and dream of an African Federation.

There were also some particular difficult moments during the years when Jerry Rawlings was in power in Ghana, like, for instance, the whole Soussoudis situation. Information retrieved from CIA files and confirmed by the Washington Post not only revealed that the imprisonment, denationalization and deportation of eight Ghanaians to the U.S. in 1985 was due to espionage and working for the CIA, but they had been collecting intelligence data for the purpose of propagating pro-U.S. sentiments and electioneering.

If Ghanaians aren’t still concerned enough over their country being used as a giant military base during World War Two, or a possible political coup, and even CIA spy games, they’re certainly concerned over USAFRICOM. Indeed, many think the defense agreement will turn into an offense agreement that’ll make Ghana less safe and secure. They fear as well that more U.S. involvement in Ghana’s military will be used to collect intelligence in order to be used against opponents or to crush popular movements.

Military Improvement Without Thought Is Blind
Others can moreover hear Nkrumah declare proudly: “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.” Consequently, they believe it’s clear that Ghana, and only Ghana alone, must find an African solution to any of its problems, and that this can only be found in African unity and African Organization of States. They warn USAFRICOM will divide their beloved country, which is now free, and will wreak more havoc on African unity through new wars and exploitive corporate practices.

While AFRICOM has been improving their technological weapons systems and war making power, some Ghanaians take pride that they’ve primarily improved the quality of man’s humanity to man. Consequently, they want Ghana and Africa to become one of the greatest forces for good in the world instead of one of the greatest forces of militarism.

Dallas Darling is the author of Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action, Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections On Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, And Consumerism in the Context of John’s Apocalyptic Vision, and The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace. He is a correspondent for www.WN.com. You can read more of Dallas’ writings at www.beverlydarling.com and www.WN.com/dallasdarling.