The US Embassy in Ghana has assured that the Guantanamo Bay prisoners who have been freed and offered humanitarian assistance in Ghana are not terrorists.
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Guantanamo prisoners are not terrorists - US Embassy
The decision by government of Ghana to accept the Guantanamo prisoners into the country for resettlement has sparked outrage among Ghanaians.
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According to the Counselor for the US Embassy in Ghana Daniel Fennell, the two ex-detainees of the popular detention camp pose no security threat to Ghana.
Ghanaians who spoke to Pulse.com.gh expressed their displeasure over the matter.
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The two Gitmo prisoners Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby have been linked to terrorist group Al Qaeda.
The two inmates are the first of a group of 17 detainees expected to be transferred out of Guantanamo Bay that includes "multiple bad guys" and "Al Qaeda followers."
Read more: Two Gitmo prisoners to resettle in Ghana
But Daniel Fennell speaking to Accra-based radio station, Kasapa FM said the move is to enable the detainees to be reintegrated into society.
"We don’t think of them as terrorists, we think of them as detainees….under the circumstances it is not possible for them to go back to Yemen and Ghana accepted to help and the US is very grateful.
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"…If they were seen as active in AI Qaeda in the past, over the cause of time they are no longer active in that area. Ghana becomes the 55th country to partner the US in this humanitarian assistance…. we don’t think Ghana is doing anything dangerous to invite any attacks from terrorists,” he said.
He, however, added that it is legitimate for Ghanaians to ask questions and express concerns over the arrival of the two, adding it is the responsibility of state officials to provide the right answers to allay the fears of the citizenry.
Meanwhile, an International Relations expert, Professor Keith Bluwey has condemned the government for its decision to accept the Guantanamo Bay inmates.
In an interview with Pulse.com.gh, Professor Keith Bluwey said "it is reckless for a president of any nation to accept Guantanamo bay detainees into his country. You know Ghana is only a few years away from coup regimes. We have just been blessed with about 20 years or so without a coup detat. If you bring such people in our midst, they are professional criminals; they will start their work again."
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