Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com
By William Yaw
Owusu
Thursday,
January 14, 2016
OccupyGhana, a pressure group,
has waded into the NDC government’s controversial acceptance of hardcore
terrorists released by the United States from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to Ghana.
They also added their voice to
the numerous calls on the Mahama-led government to explain the status of Mahmud
Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, who were brought to
Ghana by the United States government after being detained for more than a
decade on terrorism charges.
A statement issued in Accra and
signed by Nana Sarpong Agyeman-Badu said OccupyGhana was demanding answers from
the government pursuant to Article 21 (f) of the 1992 Constitution.
OccupyGhana Alarmed
“OccupyGhana writes in respect
of the above-mentioned former detainees of the Guantanamo Bay Prison, whom you
have confirmed the Government of Ghana (GoG) has agreed to accept to live in
Ghana for a period of two years, after which period they may opt to leave
Ghana.”
“We of OccupyGhana are alarmed
by the conduct of GoG in respect of Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby respectively
and demand that you answer the following issues: What are the real names and
any aliases of Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby that are known to GoG?”
They said the government should
tell Ghanaians the terrorists ‘professional/vocational/occupational
backgrounds’ prior to their detention.
“When did GoG execute an
agreement with the government of the United States for the acceptance of Messrs
Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby?” they queried, adding, “Why did GoG make an announcement
to Ghanaians of the acceptance of Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby only after FOX News had broken the news?”
Parliamentary Oversight
They also want to know if
Parliament or any of its committees at any point in time was briefed on the
decision to accept the two, adding, “If Parliament or any of its Committees was
involved, kindly furnish the name(s) and the date(s).”
“Are Messrs Bin Atef and
Al-Dhuby among former Guantanamo Bay Prison detainees who have expressed fears
at any time of torture or persecution if they returned to Yemen, their home
country? Has Yemen confirmed to GoG that Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby risk
criminal trial if they return to Yemen?” they further quizzed.
American Opposition
OccupyGhana asked: “Why did GoG
agree to accept Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby when the United States as the
country that has primary responsibility for the two and other Guantanamo Bay
detainees and former detainees is unable to do so because of strong opposition
to settle even a single of the former detainees on American soil?”
“Did GoG consider the fact that
some former Guantanamo Bay Prison detainees have joined terrorist organisations
on their release before agreeing to accept Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby? Did
GoG consider the fact that some former Guantanamo Bay Prison detainees have
engaged in ‘propaganda warfare’ by speaking out publicly against their
detentions and justifying terrorism before accepting Messrs Bin Atef and
Al-Dhuby?”
Legal Status
The group further wants the
government to tell Ghanaians what legal status the government has given to the
two, asking, “Do Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby have a right to work whilst in
Ghana?”
OccupyGhana further asked if the
two have the opportunity for family reunion whilst in Ghana, adding, “Do Messrs
Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby have the right to access public services, including
housing, education, medical care, socialisation and integration programmes
whilst in Ghana?”
They also want to know if the
two have voting rights whilst in Ghana and whether the government will grant them
residence permits.
“Will GoG grant Messrs Bin Atef
and Al-Dhuby refugee status whilst in Ghana? Is GoG aware that restrictions on the
movements of Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby whilst they are in Ghana can only be
ordered by a court and not the executive branch of Government?”
“Did GoG consider that by
agreeing to accept Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby, Ghana and its citizens worldwide
can be viewed by terrorist organisations as collaborators with the United
States in its fight against terrorists such that the country and its citizens
may be targeted for terrorist attacks? Are there any financial gains to Ghana
for its acceptance of Messrs Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby?”
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