A member of the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament, Peter Lanchene Toobu has condemned President Akufo-Addo’s request for the United States’ support to ward off security threats along Ghana’s borders.

According to him, Ghana, like all other African countries has always chosen to be non-aligned because it is the best way to ensure security.

“Its great powers desire to have influence over Africa. It has been a game for many nights, America, China, and Russia. As we talk today, its just a game. And if we are non-aligned, I expect that the President should be careful with his words, because Wagner group is not a group that goes invading countries,” he said.

Mr. Toobu’s comments come after President Akuffo-Addo courted the support of the US to ward off possible security threats to Ghana being posed by Russian mercenaries mining along the northern borders of Ghana

The President said the Russian Wagner group is being compensated with a mine very close to Ghana’s northern border to help the insurgency in Burkina Faso.

“Today, Russian mercenaries are on our northern border, Burkina Faso has now entered into an arrangement to go along with Mali in imploring the Wagner forces there. I believe a mine in Southern Burkina has been allocated to them as a form of payment for their services,” the President said.

Speaking at the meeting with US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken as part of the US-African Leaders Summit in Washington DC, President Akufo-Addo said it is particularly distressing to have them[Wagner forces] operating in our northern border.

“We [Ghana] have been very vocal and upfront about condemning the invasion by Russia and therefore now to have this group on our borders is a matter of some considerable disquiet and concern for us.

“We can have you as a partner in confronting these threats it is very important that ECOWAS in the West Africa area remains a democratic space,” he said.

On the back of this Mr. Toobu said the current situation is part of a game by great powers to influence Africa and Ghana should not be involved because we are non-aligned.

The Wa West MP explained that the Wagner group was invited to help achieve the security needs of Russia.

“They were invited and they have gone in there, they have a role to play to ensure that the person that invited them will achieve that security principle that they want to achieve. So, whatever we do as a country let’s respect our own principle, we are non-aligned,” he stressed.

He further stated that world powers always use Africa as a playing ground, hence it is always the best choice to stay neutral.

“Those of us in Africa, vulnerable countries like Ghana in terms of security, our policy is non-aligned and we expect that the President will put that posture out there and not openly condemn Russia that they have invaded Ukraine,” he noted.