US government no longer responsible for Gitmo 2 - Ambassador

The US government has stated explicitly that it has no business with the two ex- Guantanamo Bay detainees in the country after signing a deal with the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

According to the US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson they are now obliged to deal directly with the Ghanaian government and that the US has fulfilled its part of the bargain by bringing them into the country and integrating them for two years.

He revealed to newsmen in Tamale that the US government as part of arrangements was responsible for their upkeep by giving them some stipends for toiletries and other basic things but was unable to disclose how much that was.

“If the government Ghana wishes to relocate them to a third country, they need to discuss that with the two refugees under the international law. We have no role in that and no objection to it. At this point we consider it as a matter between the government of Ghana and the two”, he said.

As far as the US is concerned, he reiterated that their relationship with the two came to a halt on January 6, 2018, as contained in the agreement. The two Guantanamo Bay detainees Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby have been in Ghana for the last two years because of their refugee status.

The two Yemenis were resettled in Ghana in January 2016 following an agreement between the John Mahama government and the Barack Obama led-U.S. administration.

There have been calls for the two to be repatriated but Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey disclosed that government will, bring the agreement of their stay before parliament for ratification.

Meanwhile, Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid revealed that government is currently exploring to get friendly countries that will be willing to accept and live with the two ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees.

He disclosed that the two who are residing in the country as refugees must also be willing to agree to be sent to such countries.

“We are exploring options to get friendly countries to take them. Per the agreement that was signed, when their two-year expire it the business of the country to find them a safe haven. That is why they were offered refugee status after the expiration of their period”, he revealed on Joy Fm’s news analysis programme, Newsfile.

Until a country is found, he disclosed that they will be kept in Ghana indicating that they have over the period within their stay conducted themselves very well contrary to claims they were going to court terrorist attacks for the country.