Gitmo ex-convicts saga: Akufo-Addo must speak – Group

The leader of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, must state his position on Ghana’s decision to host two Guatanamo Bay ex-convicts for two years, a group calling itself the Great Democrats has demanded.

Its Convenor, Ibrahim Yahaya, said in a statement that: “As a matter of urgency Nana Akufo-Addo should let Ghanaians know his position. By so doing, the people of Ghana would have the opportunity to determine what he would do if given the rein of this dear country.”

The group said Nana Akufo-Addo’s view on the matter is important since he served as “Minister of Foreign Affairs and was once the Chairman of the UN Security Council.”

Ex-convicts Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby arrived in Ghana two days ago.

Their transfer is the first of an expected 17 such transfers approved for January, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.

Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby were held for more than 13 years at the detention facility in Cuba. They were unanimously approved for transfer by the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force, according to a Pentagon statement issued Wednesday afternoon.

The task force is comprised of six departments and agencies charged with determining which detainees can be safely transferred from the facility.

Bin Atef, according to the New York Times Guantanamo Docket, was born in 1979 in Saudi Arabia and fought with Osama Bin Laden’s 55th Arab Brigade and was an admitted member of the Taliban. He was captured in Afghanistan and transferred to U.S. custody in January 2002 after engaging in combat against the American-led coalition.

Like Bin Atef, Salih Al-Dhuby was born in Saudi Arabia and claims Yemeni citizenship, according to the New York Times Guantanamo Docket. The suspected Al-Qaida member was born in 1981 and was captured by Afghan forces in December 2001 following an explosion near Tora Bora. He’s been held in Guantanamo since May 2002.

President Barack Obama has promised to close the Guantanamo Bay facility since he was a candidate in 2008, but has struggled to do so amid Congressional opposition to move detainees to a prison in the United States.

The decision by the government of Ghana to accept the detainees has sparked public outcry in the small West African country. International relations expert Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, for instance, has said it could open up the country to security threats.

Also, a former presidential advisor in the Kufuor administration, Vicky Bright, has said Ghana, by accepting the detainees, was importing trouble to its shores.

Former deputy Minister for the Interior, K.T. Hammond has also demanded that government immediately send them back to the Guantanamo Bay.

Below is the full statement of the group:

For Immediate Release

Fri 8th Jan, 2016

AKUFO-ADDO MUST STATE HIS POSITION ON DECISION TO HOST THE YEMEN DETAINEES IN GHANA

The Great Democrats are by this statement calling on Nana Addo Danquah Akufo -Addo to State his official position on government's decision to provide humanitarian assistance and refuge to persons from Rwanda, Yemen and Syria.

Since the government announced its intention to embark on this critical decision, we have heard from various stakeholders and interested groups some of whom disagree with the decision.

However, unlike what other responsible opposition party leaders do in other jurisdictions, the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer has surprisingly been silent about the matter.

We call on Mr Akufo-Addo, to as a matter of urgency, let Ghanaians Know his position. By so doing, the people of Ghana would have the opportunity to determine what he would do if given the reign of this dear country. It is important to add that, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo -Addo has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and was once the Chairman of the UN Security Council. Indeed, the NPP touts him as an expert in international relations and diplomacy; it is therefore in his own interest to express his much touted expert opinions.

We at Great Democrats believe that, it is high time Nana Addo Danquah Akufo- Addo becomes consistent in choosing what matters to speak on so as to make clear his policy position as an alternative for the populace to assess. It is the same Mr Akufo-Addo who lamented about the late president Mills' 'slow' response to the the political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.

By so doing he has given the public the impression that he is forthright on foreign policy matters. We therefore call on him to be bold enough to publicly state his position on this decision by government.

The Great Democrats and by extension all Ghanaians, are waiting patiently to hear Nana Akufo-Addo's views on this matter.

We wish all Ghanaians a very happy new year,

Many thanks.

Ibrahim Yahaya

Convenor, Great Democrats.