Transfer of ex-Guantanamo detainees to Accra stirs public outcry in Ghana

Two Yemeni detainees held for more than a decade at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, in Cuba have been transferred to Ghana, a move that has stirred a public outcry, with many Ghanaians saying the men pose a security threat.

“To me I’m not happy they are in Ghana here, anything can happen and if anything happens, we the poor people will suffer for it. They have a place to go by now and they have their plane tickets, passport and everything so in case anything happens in Ghana, the poor will be facing the trouble and we will suffer a lot, so we are not happy with what our leaders have done so far,” said Accra resident, Adongo Thomas.

President John Mahama said the men posed no threat and would be monitored. Ghana received no money for taking them but would benefit from information from the United States about people arriving in the country who could pose a security threat.

The detainees were identified by the Pentagon as Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih al-Dhuby.

Dozens of countries have received former Guantanamo Bay detainees but the transfers were the first to Ghana.

The government has granted permission for the two to remain in Ghana for two years, subject to security clearances.