Angry Ghanaians reject move to resettle Guantanamo prisoners

Some Ghanaians have rejected moves by government to accept two Guantanamo Bay prisoners into the country.

Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby are being offered humanitarian assistance in Ghana.

Bin Atef is an admitted member of the Taliban and fought for Usama bin Laden, while Al-Dhuby trained with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

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,” the Fox NewS has reported.

However, some Ghanaians have expressed disappointment in government for accepting to resettle the detainees in the Ghana.

"Why should they be brought to Ghana I think it's not good at all, they can bring a whole lot of evil deed to this place. " One gentleman told Pulse.com.gh "They can influence a lot of people... there are a lot of people here who are not employed as you already know the employment rate in Ghana is very high so when they get motivation from people who do bad stuff they will easily join them."

"It is not safe for us as Ghanaians to accommodate people like that." Another said, "Ghana is known to be a peaceful country…it is actually a security threat to Ghanaians"

Meanwhile, International Relations analyst, Professor Keith Bluwey has condemned the government for its decision to accept the Guantanamo Bay inmates.

According to him, the decision was only accepted by the government because Mahama and some other government officials would financially benefit from the deal.

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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