Ex-Guantanamo prisoners in Ghana aren’t terrorists – US Embassy

CARTOON OF THE DAY

Two ex-Guantanamo detainees are in town and the whole Ghana is in a state of trepidation. The Mahama-led administration and the US government have given the assurance that all is well since security measures have been put in place to check the duo, who will be Ghana's guests for the next two years. Cartoonist Makaveli depicts how the two were paraded in town when they landed.
Source: Ghana/starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
 In another development, the US Embassy in Ghana has stated that the freed Guantanamo Bay prisoners who have been received by the Ghanaian government are not terrorists. There is public outcry in Ghana following the decision by the Mahama-led administration to offer humanitarian assistance to Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby. International relations experts have said the move could put Ghana on the radar of terrorist organisations.

 According to a statement from Ghana’s foreign affairs ministry, the assistance being offered the ex-inmates is at the request of the US government. Counselor for the US Embassy in Ghana Daniel Fennell said the two ex-detainees of the popular detention camp pose no risk to society. “We don’t think of them as terrorists, we think of them as detainees….under the circumstances it is not possible for them to go back to Yemen and Ghana accepted to help and the US is very grateful. “ …If they were seen as active in AI Qaeda in the past, over the cause of time they are no longer active in that area.

Ghana becomes the 55th country to partner the US in this humanitarian assistance…. we don’t think Ghana is doing anything dangerous to invite any attacks from terrorists,” he said. He, however, added that it is legitimate for Ghanaians to ask questions and express concerns over the arrival of the two, adding it is the responsibility of state officials to provide the right answers to allay the fears of the citizenry.