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Ghanaians agitated over Gitmos due to 'misinformation' - US Ambassador

United States Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson
United States Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson
The new US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson, has blamed the huge controversy surrounding the transfer of two Guantanamo Bay detainees to Ghana to lack of information.
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“I understand Ghanaians are concerned, and this is largely because of misinformation and lack of information,” he said.

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The US Ambassador made this known on Tuesday February 23 when he visited the flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at his Nima residence.

Mr Jackson, who was accompanied by the Political Chief at the US Embassy, Robert Carlson, explained that the transfer of the two, Mahmud Umar Muhammad bin Atef, 36, and Khalid Muhammad Salih al-Dhuby, 38, will not pose any security threat to Ghana.

This follows earlier fears by some Ghanaians including religious bodies and security analysts that the presence of the two could pose a risk to the country's security.

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On his part, Nana Akufo-Addo said “Ghanaians are yet to be persuaded that this decision was in our national interest."

He believed that government erred in communicating the transfer of the two former detainees into the country, a situation he adds could affect relationship between US and Ghana.

“None of the institutions of State, not even Parliament, were consulted on the issue. Political parties were not consulted before this decision was taken. Not surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians and civil society were strongly against this decision,” Nana Addo added.

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.

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