Ghana vrs Guantanamo

Trending within most corners of the Ghanaian community is "Guantanamo", very popular as such and synonymous to terrorism in the understanding of most people, maybe because the Guantanamo Bay detention camp was established to keep extraordinarily dangerous terrorists.

Khalid al-Dhuby and Mahmoud Omar Bin Atef On the 7th of January, 2016 were transferred to Ghana. The first time Ghana has taken any Guantanamo prisoners.

The drama around the transfer makes it
clear that, indeed President Obama wants to fulfill his campaign promise to close down the bay as enshrined in his 2008 manifesto.

This idea is what Congress/Senate of the United States of America has a problem with. It was not surprising at all when Senate passed a bill in November that bans moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to facilities in the United States in a bait to thwart the effort of Obama and protect the Interest of the States. 

Now, Obama is bent on fulfilling his promise, hence he lobbies other countries to accept these detainees and eventually wins Ghana to accept two of them.

Yes, Obama may be right in his quest to correct the humanitarian abuse meted out to most innocent detainees by giving them back their freedom.

Congress as well has a point as to their belief that these persons shall, though not charged with terrorism or whatsoever, be a threat to the interest of the State, and as some US nationals indicates, a disgrace to the United states.

Of course the factions within the ranks and files of America has their interests so far as these detainees are concerned, and so do Ghanaians also have a very strong interest.

Our interest is simple, yes, we know Ghana wants to still maintain its status as being a leading state in Africa when it comes to humanitarian aids and peacekeeping. Yes we have an international responsibility to observe as a country, Yes Government is very optimistic that these gentlemen pose no security threat to our dear nation, of course most countries have received former Guantanamo Bay detainees, including other African states such as Uganda and Cape Verde, but the question stands as to whether or not we are safe as a people.

Our safety as a people is the major concern to which the Government of the day must be able to assure and ensure with all alacrity.

Our safety first before any other thing. 

#wearewatching

God bless our homeland Ghana. 

#Amoakohene