It has emerged that the Interior Ministry under the erstwhile John Mahama government, advised cabinet against the Gitmo 2 agreement.
The international agreement with the United States of America which saw the two Guantanamo Bay detainees being resettled in Ghana, was met with fierce resistance from Ghanaians and at the front of that, was then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The John Mahama government, however, defended the decision saying the concerns being raised that the detainees posed a security threat to Ghana were false.
Khalid Mohammed Salih al-Dhuby and Mahmmoud Omar Mohammed Bin Atef
Speaking on Joy FM’s News analysis programme, News File Saturday, Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide News Paper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako revealed that the Interior Ministry under the NDC advised against the agreement.
The veteran journalist cited letters from the Ministry signed by Deputy Interior Minister at the time, James Agalga.
“The Ministry for the Interior advised against acceptance; raising security concerns, I have the letter here signed by Agalga,” he said.
The letter, according to Mr. Baako said, “It was inappropriate; there were security challenges and could have political implications” and therefore advised against acceptance
But cabinet ignored the advice went into the agreement, Mr. Baako highlighted.
Watch the Video Below:
Full Video on Gitmo 2 discussion, Watch Baako’s Submission from 19 Minutes
This correspondence and others were issued within a six-month period prior to the arrival of the duo in Ghana.
Following the expiration of the 2-year agreement with the USA to host the Detainees Civil Society Organisations are mounting pressure on the government to repatriate them.
But new revelation made by Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey confirm that the duo were granted refugee status in Ghana by the Mahama governmentand they, therefore, cannot be removed from the country without their consent.
Some members of the minority including ranking member of foreign affairs committee, Okudzeto Ablakwa have however rebutted that, saying the government can revoke the refugee status at any time.
The Foreign Ministry maintain they are exploring other means of resettling the Yemenis considering the instability in their home country.
ghana surely needs a businessman and neither a politician nor a soldier to lead the country