Mahama subject to impeachment - Minority

Europa

February 16, 2016 11:51 PM

The Minority in Parliament have threatened to impeach President John Mahama for illegally admitting into Ghana two ex-detainees of Guantanamo Bay.

The Minority in Parliament has threatened to impeach President John Mahama for illegally admitting into Ghana two ex-detainees of Guantanamo Bay.

According to the Minority MPs, the president failed to get parliamentary ratification for an agreement between the government of Ghana and the United States of America, in relation to the transfer of the two terror suspects, Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby.

“In diplomatic relations, you’d have verbal communication, but, at least, when the United States approached us, they did not come to us verbally, they must have issued a note verbal to our Mission there and that’s how the process started.

“So, there is a written agreement and we are demanding to see it,” the Minority spokesperson in charge of foreign affairs, Mr Isaac Osei, said at a press conference on Tuesday February 16, 2016.

The Minority MPs added that the president breached some sections of the constitution in the process of transferring the two former terror suspects.

"In 75 (1) It says the president may execute or cause to be executed treaties agreements or conventions in the name of Ghana.

"75 (2) A treaty, agreement or convention executed by or under the authority of the President shall be subject to ratification by-

(a) Act of Parliament; or

(b) a resolution of Parliament supported by the votes of more than on behalf of all the members of Parliament," Subin MP, Isaac Osei quoted the law as saying.

"I think that in spite of what we have said it is not too late, the president can eat humble pie, bring the agreement to Parliament.

"As we speak today the president can be impeached because of this," the Minority MPs said.

The two ex-detainees: Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, arrived in Ghana on Thursday January 7, 2016 for a two-year stay as part of a deal reached between the United States of America and the Government of Ghana.

There are already fears by some Ghanaians that the presence of the two former terror suspects could be a threat to the country's security.

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