If the detainees have sworn to harm American citizens and Ghana decides to keep them in Ghana, it means Ghana can no longer attract tourists from America. Study abroad programs to Ghana are dying because of this hasty decisio ... read full comment
If the detainees have sworn to harm American citizens and Ghana decides to keep them in Ghana, it means Ghana can no longer attract tourists from America. Study abroad programs to Ghana are dying because of this hasty decision. Besides, Mahama is now planting terrorism seed in Ghana. The President is simply not fit to lead the country!
Excelsior 8 years ago
What is shocking is that the President would take such a decision without the full backing -- and I mean full backing -- of three of his senior Ministers.
It is unheard of. In any other country where there no stomach-polit ... read full comment
What is shocking is that the President would take such a decision without the full backing -- and I mean full backing -- of three of his senior Ministers.
It is unheard of. In any other country where there no stomach-politicians, all 3 would have resigned. But in Ghana, stomach overrules principle. Even when DEATH is being imported for us. Look at what is happening in Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso agreed to make itself a partner to America in the anti-jihadist campaign, and now it has been struck. If you make yourself a potential target, as Mahama has done for Ghana, how can you guarantee that you too will not be hit?
You cannot be safe, becayse the French are in Burkina Faso in strength. And Burkina was not safeguarded. The Americans and the French are in Mali. And yet Mali was attacked several times over.
The only safety is to remove oneself from Al Qaeda's cross-hairs. So Mahama, please let the two go back where they came from!
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 8 years ago
Prof Issifu, I am not sure the source of your claim that "study abroad programs to Ghana are dying because of this hasty decision". The impact of the two Gitmo detainees in Ghana on study abroad programmes to Ghana will only ... read full comment
Prof Issifu, I am not sure the source of your claim that "study abroad programs to Ghana are dying because of this hasty decision". The impact of the two Gitmo detainees in Ghana on study abroad programmes to Ghana will only be known at lest in the next three months, the earliest. Your claim has nothing to do with the Gitmo detainees in Ghana but probably due to dumsor.
The responses by the three ministers and how the author described the roles of (Foreign) Minister/s are indications that Ghanaian ministers are either incompetent or are not properly served by senior civil servants. The duties of ministry directors and their specialist officers as described by the author are not only what happens in ministries but in most organisations. Chief Executives are supported by experts who conduct research on various matters and provide policy papers and briefs for the Chief Executive and senior management.
I agree with Cameron Doudu that Mahama's ministers are abandoning him on the Gitmo detainees. In any developed democracy these ministers would be pushed or be sacked if they do not resign before they wreck the ship. Sadly, Mahama is a weak president has got the guts to sack the ministers in question.
Kwabena Yeboah 8 years ago
The statements by the three ministers - Foreign Affairs, Interior and AG - were a subterfuge intended to shift blame to the President. Why? Because the three ministers know the 1992 Constitution gives the President exclusive ... read full comment
The statements by the three ministers - Foreign Affairs, Interior and AG - were a subterfuge intended to shift blame to the President. Why? Because the three ministers know the 1992 Constitution gives the President exclusive power to act on national issues with or without their involvement or consent.
To interpret the ministers' pronouncements, especially in view of the word, 'privy', (you noticed that all three used the same expression) we must understand that these pronouncements are rehearsed to exculpate the three ministers. The pronouncements are also intended to remind Ghanaians that the 1992 Constitution gives the President exclusive power to make such decisions. It is so critical that we call for a complete overhaul or alteration of Rawlings' induced 1992 Constitution if you do not like what Mahama has done with the GITMO two.
Vesting exclusive power in the Presidency without the proverbial checks and balances is a recipe for disaster as we are witnessing now, especially where we have incompetent Mahama in the helm.
Kwadwo. 8 years ago
Thanks for this insightful analysis on this Mahama Gitmo blunder. It is clear the Ministers are trying to distance themselves from this fiasco. But this vain attempt has really revealed the incompetence of Mahama and his appo ... read full comment
Thanks for this insightful analysis on this Mahama Gitmo blunder. It is clear the Ministers are trying to distance themselves from this fiasco. But this vain attempt has really revealed the incompetence of Mahama and his appointees. Very sad indeed.
ABU IDDRISU 8 years ago
This is the character of a president Asuma Banda says is wiser than Nana Addo.Hypocrisy,bootlicking and corruption is what is killing Ghana today.We dont need to see Burkina faso bombed before we know Mahama has blundered. Wh ... read full comment
This is the character of a president Asuma Banda says is wiser than Nana Addo.Hypocrisy,bootlicking and corruption is what is killing Ghana today.We dont need to see Burkina faso bombed before we know Mahama has blundered. Who is the head of National security? Baba Kamara? For goodness sake, has baba kamara ever been a watchman before? Where is his track record apart from concorcted degrees from unkown universities ?
All these shortcomings of our president will blind his vision and judgement which invariably would affect mother Ghana.
How do we expect america to tell us that the two prisoners are dangerous when they want to get rid of them?.Mahama and the west seem not to understand the thought,psyche and character of the arabs yet. Dont they see the unyielding resistance of the people of palestine whose weapon are mostly stones vis a vis the sophisticated weapons of the israelis? The arab does not fear death and that is why militancy would always have constant recruits.Those who carried out 9/11 hijacking and bombing of the twin towers new too well they were going to die and the two prisoners in Ghana have the same idealogical mindset.
Finally do Ghanaians expect the two convicts to tell us they still have intentions to attack america or its allies? Come on Ghanaians, are we this dumb?
ghanaman 8 years ago
The good old and versatile Cameron Duodu has provided some well-informed analysis of the issue of the handling of the former Gitmo detainees by certain ministers. Problem is, most of the assumptions made by the author, inclu ... read full comment
The good old and versatile Cameron Duodu has provided some well-informed analysis of the issue of the handling of the former Gitmo detainees by certain ministers. Problem is, most of the assumptions made by the author, including the functioning of the moinistires, with directors receiving briefs written by highly competent junior staff, do not hold. One can infer that there are too many square pegs in round holes, a plethora of inefficiencies, rampant sinecurism and abject professional illiteracy have come to characterize the once highly-admired Ghanaian civil service, of which Cameron only knows of in his memories. What a pity.
Prof. Issifu, USA 8 years ago
Kofi I've been directing Study Abroad programs to Ghana every summer for almost 12 years now! I started recruiting students at my university last fall for the summer 2016 trip. After news broke out 2 Gitmo detainees have been ... read full comment
Kofi I've been directing Study Abroad programs to Ghana every summer for almost 12 years now! I started recruiting students at my university last fall for the summer 2016 trip. After news broke out 2 Gitmo detainees have been exported to Ghana, some of the students have withdrawn from the program! Another colleague in different school is facing the same withdrawal problems! Our politicians need to think wisely and broadly when making international decisions! It's sad!
Asem 8 years ago
Perhaps you should tell your moslem kingsmen to stop bombing and maiming others for the sake of their false Arab Allah in the first place.
Perhaps you should tell your moslem kingsmen to stop bombing and maiming others for the sake of their false Arab Allah in the first place.
If the detainees have sworn to harm American citizens and Ghana decides to keep them in Ghana, it means Ghana can no longer attract tourists from America. Study abroad programs to Ghana are dying because of this hasty decisio ...
read full comment
What is shocking is that the President would take such a decision without the full backing -- and I mean full backing -- of three of his senior Ministers.
It is unheard of. In any other country where there no stomach-polit ...
read full comment
Prof Issifu, I am not sure the source of your claim that "study abroad programs to Ghana are dying because of this hasty decision". The impact of the two Gitmo detainees in Ghana on study abroad programmes to Ghana will only ...
read full comment
The statements by the three ministers - Foreign Affairs, Interior and AG - were a subterfuge intended to shift blame to the President. Why? Because the three ministers know the 1992 Constitution gives the President exclusive ...
read full comment
Thanks for this insightful analysis on this Mahama Gitmo blunder. It is clear the Ministers are trying to distance themselves from this fiasco. But this vain attempt has really revealed the incompetence of Mahama and his appo ...
read full comment
This is the character of a president Asuma Banda says is wiser than Nana Addo.Hypocrisy,bootlicking and corruption is what is killing Ghana today.We dont need to see Burkina faso bombed before we know Mahama has blundered. Wh ...
read full comment
The good old and versatile Cameron Duodu has provided some well-informed analysis of the issue of the handling of the former Gitmo detainees by certain ministers. Problem is, most of the assumptions made by the author, inclu ...
read full comment
Kofi I've been directing Study Abroad programs to Ghana every summer for almost 12 years now! I started recruiting students at my university last fall for the summer 2016 trip. After news broke out 2 Gitmo detainees have been ...
read full comment
Perhaps you should tell your moslem kingsmen to stop bombing and maiming others for the sake of their false Arab Allah in the first place.