Sunday, June 28, 2009


The stand-by brigades are supposed to be Africa's answer to its apparently endless cycle of coups and civil wars. The aim is to provide the African Union with an ability to deploy troops rapidly to an emergency, to stamp out the kind of conflicts that have so disfigured Sierra Leone, Liberia, Congo, Somalia, and the rest. They would be a replacement for the United Nations Peace-Keeping Forces now scattered across Africa, holding fragile states together.

But the African stand-by brigades are critically deficient in two areas: one of these is training."

"Martin Plaut, BBC's Africa editor, Martin Plaut, taking a look at Washington's little discussed military relationship with the African continent.

Nana Akyea's appropriate response:

On the question of training, I prefer that you see this before we open discussions!

Recent Posts and comments:

the article that sparked the controversy:

Obama’s Visit – What’s In It For Us And U.S.?

by Asare Otchere-Darko

Abstract

This article argues that in the excitement surrounding President Obama’s July visit to Ghana, what has been missing is an analysis of what is in it for the United States, an understanding of which is crucial for Ghana if it is to capitalise on the immense opportunity provided by this trip. Highlighting the significance of the deepwater oil find in 2007, the article sets out why Ghana is now the subject of strategic U.S. energy and military interests which, as far as the Obama administration is concerned, has raised the stakes considerably in Ghana–United States relations. As the potential gem in the crown of what Washington terms Africa's ‘New Gulf’, the article highlights how Ghana’s pending oil-rich status will shift the terms of negotiation during the trip. Furthermore, America’s preference for Ghana as the physical location for the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) headquarters, and its concern not to cede strategic ground to China in this region, mean that in 2009 Ghana has an unprecedented hand of cards to play in this game of international diplomacy. Our task as a nation – and the Government’s task as our representatives - is to make the strategic decisions to ensure that we aren’t simply the honoured recipients of President Obama’s first visit to Africa, but that we come away with more concrete deliverables to help us meet our own strategic goals.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=162541


The US military in Africa - modernghana.com/feature article
May 30, 2009 ... Transcript by Nana Akyea Mensah, the Odikro... Analysis now, and in a few weeks, President Obama will be off to Ghana - on his first visit ...
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President Mills, AFRICOM and Obama: An Open letter
Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro. 05-22 10:56. WHY DEMONSTRATE? GG -UK, 05-22 12:27 ... Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro. 05-22 11:44. BECAUSE OF OUR RESOURCES.
Nana Akyea Mensah's Corner
By Nana Akyea Mensah
Nana Akyea Mensah: Apedwa, Akyem Abuakwa, Ghana: "On August 21st, 1943, the king of Akyem Abuakwa state in Ghana, Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, died. With a population of about 250000, it was a rich state whose wealth was based upon cocoa ...
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Nana Akyeah Mensah's Briefs
Nana Akyea Mensah writes in US Military Base In Ghana in response to a feature article on GhanaWeb by Asare Otchere-Darko, Obama's Visit – What's In It For
Ghana and South Africa to strengthen defence cooperation
Author: Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro. Date: 06-13 05:07. Fellow Countrymen! This is by far a better step in the right direction than the AFRICOM menace
2007 July « Crossed Crocodiles
George Kwashie on Dr. Asamoa-Baah appointed Depu… xcroc on Ghanaians Discuss AFRICOM … Nana Akyea Mensah on Ghanaians Discuss AFRICOM … oswin on rwanda11-08 ...
Nana Akyea Mensah's Corner A BETTER MOVE THAN THE AFRICOM
Nana Akyea Mensah comments on Ghana and South Africa to strengthen defence ... Nana Akyea Mensah: Apedwa Akyem Abuakwa Ghana: On August 21st 1943 the king ...

2006 September « Crossed Crocodiles
Nana Akyea Mensah on Ghanaians Discuss AFRICOM … oswin on rwanda11-08 · xcroc on AFRICOM's Lake Victoria… ruben eberlein on Niger Delta War Crimes Trials …
US Military Base In Ghana
Nana Akyea Mensah, the Odikro, is a political commentator, analyst and a very experienced ghost since 1944! Please you are welcome to my blog for further
Gbeho: US can't force AFRICOM on Ghana | Ghana Live News
By Webmaster
Ambassador Gbeho, as he is popularly called, was speaking on the planned visit of US President Barack Obama to Ghana on July 10 and 11, 2009, and what the visit portends for the nation. Sections of the Ghanaian public have publicly ...
Ghana Live News - http://www.ghana-live.com/


THE GHANAIAN REACTOR ONLINE: Ghanaians Discuss AFRICOM & Obama's Visit
By THE GHANAIAN REACTOR
However, in 2008, during his visit to Ghana he unequivocally denied establishing a military headquarters in Africa.In October of the same year, in response to the Sullivan Foundation questionnaire, Senator Obama maintained that Africom ...
THE GHANAIAN REACTOR ONLINE - http://theghanaianreactor.blogspot.com/



--

Nana Akyea Mensah
http://nanaakyeamensah.blogspot.com/

Africom to Continue Under Obama

Africom to Continue Under Obama

Daniel Volman
Global Research
June 27, 2009

With the Obama administration set to oversee significant increases in US security assistance programmes for African countries, Daniel Volman examines the US government’s plans for its military operations on the African continent over the coming financial year. Stressing that the US president is essentially continuing the policies outlined under his predecessor George W. Bush, the author considers the proposed funding increases for initiatives like the Foreign Military Financing programme and the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programme. Pointing out that the administration is yet to offer any public explanation of its policy, Volman concludes that it would be a mistake to assume that there will be no US military action if the situation in Somalia deteriorates.



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