News:
March 11, 2026
The Minority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament is demanding immediate answers from the government following revelations that the Mahama administration authorized the use of Ghanaian territory for a United States military airstrike against terrorist groups in Nigeria.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, members of the Minority, led by the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Abdullai Jinapor, called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to appear before the House to explain the circumstances surrounding the collaborative military action, which reportedly took place in December 2025.
The demand stems from comments made by Minister Ablakwa during a panel discussion at Chatham House in London.
According to the Minority, the Minister disclosed that the government of President John Dramani Mahama explicitly authorized the United States to use Ghana as a base to launch airstrikes against ISIS targets in Northern Nigeria.
“This was said on a foreign soil, before a foreign international institute, the Chatham House,” Jinapor stated. “We members of parliament, members of the Minority Caucus of Parliament… heard this just as any one of you hearing it on the airwaves of our country, that our government worked with the United States of America to organise a military action against a terrorist group in another foreign country in West Africa, Nigeria.”
Mr. Jinapor outlined three key areas of concern that necessitate an urgent parliamentary briefing.
Legal Framework and Parliamentary Approval
The first major question revolves around the legal basis for the collaboration. The Minority noted that under the previous administration of Nana Akufo-Addo, no such agreement was entered into with the United States.
“What is the framework within which the Ghanaian government collaborated with the United States of America?” Jinapor asked. He stressed that if such an agreement exists, the Constitution is clear that it must be brought before Parliament for ratification. “Why has the government as yet not tabled that agreement before the Parliament of Ghana for ratification or otherwise?” he demanded.
National Security Implications
The second, and perhaps most pressing issue for the Minority, is the potential risk this action poses to Ghana’s national security. Lawmakers are worried that by participating in a direct military action against ISIS, Ghana could become a retaliatory target for terrorist organisations.
“Does Ghana become a target of ISIS? Does Ghana become a target for other terrorist organisations?” Jinapor queried. “What measures have been put in place in Ghana to ensure that our citizens are protected and our national security is safeguarded?”
The Minority Caucus is demanding that the Foreign Minister provide Parliament and the Ghanaian people with the necessary assurances that the country has not been “unnecessarily exposed” to the threat of terrorism as a result of this covert operation. They are seeking clarity on what specific measures the government has implemented to protect citizens in light of this “extraordinary disclosure.”
Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com