The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hanna Tetteh has discounted claims, any possible decision to return the two ex-detainees to the United States will guarantee Ghana’s security.
According to Hanna Tetteh, Ghana may still be a target for potential terrorist attacks with or without the presence of the ex-guantanamo detainees, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, both nationals of Yemen.
Government has been widely criticised for their largely secret decision to accept a request from the United States of America to relocate these ex-detainees from Guantanamo despite American representatives saying the two men pose no risk.
A cross section of Ghanaians, including political organisation and the clergy have also raised concerns over the potential security threat the presence of the two Yemeni men pose.
Speaking on Accra based Radio Gold, the Foreign Affairs Minister assured Ghanaians the movement of the two Yemeni men within Ghana will be restricted and closely monitored by security agencies.
She said, “they are going to be monitored on a daily basis. They are going to be under surveillance of officers of national security… wherever they go, whatever they do, they will be under surveillance for the period they are here.”
Madam Hanna Tetteh is however adamant these two alleged terror suspects are not a primary threat to the peace and stability of Ghana.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ghana is already exposed to more significant threats by virtue of the fact citizens of ECOWAS (Economics Community of West African States) member countries can travel into Ghana without being properly screened.
“Whether or not these two gentlemen are here, we will be exposed to this risk. Therefore the issue should be and the challenge for us as a country should be; how do we engage to manage that risk?” she said.
She further added, “If they are sent back, does it make us safer? The answer to that question is no because they are not the threat.”
Source: citifmonline
