Government Stoking Religious Conflict Over Gitmo Saga

14/01/16

The progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF) has noted with dismay, the attempt by government to pitch Muslims against Christians over the two Guantanamo prisoners. This is a worrying trend and will have to seize with immediate effect.

It should be noted that since all major Christian groups spoke up against the reception of the two terrorist after government failed to allay their fears in close door meetings, the government through its ministers has sought to soil the debate by pitching Muslims against Christians in the matter.

First and foremost, the President questioned the Christian values of the various church leaders by asking where their compassion is when even the bible preaches that we should be compassionate even to prisoners. This was obviously in reaction to the President of the Catholic Bishops conference.

Also note that the Minister of Communications, Omane Boamah in an open confrontation with the Bishop insulted all Catholics when he insinuated that the Bishop was speaking for himself and not all Catholics and that his position is far from the position of catholic doctrine.

The worst though came from the foreign affairs minister who in lobbying the Chief Iman rather incensed the Chief Imam’s Spokesperson into making inflammatory statements about how intolerant Christians have been.

For us, the warning signals are clearly written on the wall and a nation stands divided over two foreign terrorist due to Ghanaian compassion. The question is, is the government prepared to further divide this country for the sake of two terrorist?

The two terrorist are supposed to be coming to Ghana to enjoy the freedom America denied them for 14 years. The question is which free man lives within the national security compound under the armed guard 24/7 of BNI and FBI personnel in the words of the President?

The Foreign Affairs Minister is also on record as claiming the two terrorist are ‘’foot soldiers’’ as in low risk to our security. The question is which army uses its generals in one on one combat? Even in politics, is it not foot soldiers that do the leg/dirty work? Is it not for granted that these two foot soldiers will be the suicide bombers and therefore a major threat to us?

DEMANDS

The PNF wishes to call on the American government through its embassy in Ghana to with immediate effect reclaims their terrorist detainees on compassionate grounds as they are more generous and Christian than Ghanaians. Besides they have the capacity to deal with these people and do not need to bring FBI into Ghana to give 24 hour man guard to these men.

Secondly, we wish to call on the Chief Imam’s spokesperson to stop making inflammatory statements which are deliberately targeted at the Christian leaders who expressed disquiet on this matter. Ghanaian Muslims and Christians have lived in harmony since Adam and we should not allow two unknown terrorist divide us.

Thirdly, we wish to call on all Christian leaders not to respond or seize responding to the Spokesperson of the Chief Imam as they will also be inflaming passions unnecessarily.

Last but not least the President and his ministers should seize making public statements on this matter and rather seek to engage and dialogue with the disaffected bodies behind closed doors to ensure a repatriation of the detainees.

Signed

Richard Nyamah

Fred Amankwah Sarfo