Deleted:Gitmo detainees Ghana transfer controversy

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In January 2016, Government of Ghana accepted transfer of two Yemeni ex-detainees from the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay into the country for a period of two years despite some popular opposition in Ghana.[1][2] Whiles groups such as OccupyGhana and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called for their return describing the deal as "secretive" and "unconstitutional",[3][4][5][6] others including Office of the Chief Imam have reiterated the need to accept them on compassionate grounds.[7][8]

Americans Angry With Akufo Addo Over Gitmo 2 The ambassador’s revelation is contrary to Nana Akufo-Addo’s earlier position when the issue broke in the media that he had no foreknowledge of the coming of the ex-Gitmo detainees.

Spokesperson of the NPP 2016 flag bearer, Mustapha Hamid at the time said “It’s a blatant lie, it’s a fabrication, it’s a falsehood, it’s a ruse calculated to claw back some legitimacy for a decision that clearly is unpopular in the eyes of Ghanaian,” he said

This was after the party’s Director of Communications; Nana Akomea had told other media houses that the NPP flagbearer was informed about the decision only two weeks by the American Embassy before the arrival of the ex-detainees.

But, to even compound the issue, the NPP flag bearer has again in reaction to Ambassador Jackson’s statement reiterated the point that he was never consulted. A statement signed by his Press Secretary, Eugene Arhin, emphasized that at no point was Nana Addo consulted.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we would like to reiterate our earlier stated position that at no point during the transaction between the two governments was Nana Akufo-Addo consulted, and the facts of the matter speak clearly for themselves,” Arhin stated.

The NPP flag bearer’s statement further explained that, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Ghana, Melinda Tabler-Stone, called on Nana Akufo-Addo at his Nima residence to INFORM (not consult) him.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we would like to reiterate our earlier stated position that at no point during the transaction between the two governments was Nana Akufo-Addo consulted, and the facts of the matter speak clearly for themselv As of January 7, 2016 the duo; Saleh Al-Dhuby and Mohammed Bin Atef had already arrived in Ghana and are housed at a national security compound in the capital, Accra.[9] The United States embassy in Ghana maintains that the prisoners cannot be returned.[10]

On January 25, 2017, Ghana Web referred to a contract signed between Ghana, and the USA, where Ghana agreed the men would stay in Ghana for at least two years after their transfer.[11]

On June 22, 2017 the Supreme Court of Ghana ruled that the agreement signed by the President of Ghana was in violation of Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Only by an Act of Parliament could the agreement become valid. Subsequently, unless the current government submits the agreement to Parliament for approval within three months, the two prisons would be returned to the United States.[12]

See also

References

  1. "Guantanamo detainees transferred to Ghana". BBC.com. 7 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20160402143521/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35249107. Retrieved January 16, 2016. 
  2. Jamie Crawford & Barbara Starr (January 11, 2016). "Pentagon: Gitmo population to soon drop below 100". CNN. Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20160513084100/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/11/politics/pentagon-gitmo-prisoner-population-drop/index.html. Retrieved January 16, 2016. 
  3. "OccupyGhana seeks answers on Gitmo Detainee". Ghanaweb. 14 January 2016. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/OccupyGhana-seeks-answers-on-Gitmo-Detainee-407198. Retrieved January 17, 2016. 
  4. "Return ex-Gitmo detainees – Akufo-Addo". Starrfmonline. Ghanaweb. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-02-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20160219213752/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Return-ex-Gitmo-detainees-Akufo-Addo-408167. Retrieved January 17, 2016. 
  5. "Gitmo transfer: Gov’t decision secretive – Law Prof". Classfmonline.com. Ghanaweb. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-02-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20160218233703/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Gitmo-transfer-Gov-t-decision-secretive-Law-Prof-407878. Retrieved January 17, 2016. 
  6. Marian Ansah (15 January 2016). "Hosting ex-Gitmo detainees without approval unconstitutional – MP". Citifmonline. Archived from the original on 2017-01-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20170126202552/http://citifmonline.com/2016/01/15/hosting-ex-gitmo-detainees-without-approval-unconstitutional-mp/. Retrieved January 17, 2016. 
  7. Emmanuel Tornyi (January 14, 2016). "Accept Gitmo detainees on humanitarian grounds - Chief Imam". Pulse Ghana. Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20160414105907/http://pulse.com.gh/news/fear-not-accept-gitmo-detainees-on-humanitarian-grounds-chief-imam-id4559232.html. Retrieved January 17, 2016. 
  8. "'I Didn’t Take US$300m For Gitmo Duo'". ClassFMonline. Modernghana. January 12, 2016. https://www.modernghana.com/news/667444/i-didnt-take-us300m-for-gitmo-duo.html. Retrieved January 17, 2016. 
  9. AccraFM (January 15, 2016). "'You can meet Gitmo duo at the mall' – Amaliba". Myghanaonline. Ayekoo News. http://www.myghanaonline.com/1.8565689. Retrieved January 17, 2016. [dead link]
  10. Frimpong, Enoch Darfah (15 January 2016). "Ghana cannot return Guantanamo detainees; its a done deal - US Embassy". Graphic.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20160116083045/http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/56354-returning-detainees-is-not-possible-us-embassy.html. Retrieved January 17, 2016. 
  11. "‘Gitmo 2 likely to stay in Ghana till end of contract’". Ghana Web. 2017-01-25. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Gitmo-2-likely-to-stay-in-Ghana-till-end-of-contract-503937. Retrieved 2017-01-26. "The two former detainees from Guantanamo Bay currently being hosted in Ghana, may continue to stay in the country until the two-year contract signed between the government of Ghana and the US expires." 
  12. Boakye-yiadom, Nana (2017-06-22). "Ghana Court Rejects Resettlement of Guantánamo Bay Detainees" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/world/africa/ghana-guantanamo-bay-detainees.html.