The Presence Of The Ex-Gitmo Detainees In Ghana Is Causing President Mahama Headaches

Don’t fix it when it is not broken, so a popular saying goes. Similarly, don’t go looking for trouble when there is none.

Yes, one has every right to take some risks in life. Yes, one has every right to embark on an adventure. However, it is only a fool who will intentionally go out seeking for troubles. As the wise person may embark on a risky adventure in attempts to succeed in life, not being risk averse, which in no way indicates that they are looking for trouble, the fool will rather go their own way purposely sniffing for troubles.

A dangerous trouble that even Uncle Sam (USA), the militarily and technologically No. 1 advanced Superpower in the world is scared to approach, let alone, deal with, Ghana, a relatively militarily and technologically weak underdog, has wilfully dared walk into it with craned neck.

As if having taken in the two ex-detainees with all the concomitant hullabaloo is not enough to teach President Mahama a bitter lesson, he is understood to be prepared to accept, if not already accepted, or arranging to accept, additional fifteen.

It is only, sorry to say, a fool who does not give a darn about the safety and the security of his people and nation that will behave the way President Mahama, the sufferer of dead goat syndrome, is doing.

As said, “Nothing comes free but at a great (open or hidden) price”. Whatever the assurances that the Americans gave to him to swell his head into accepting the ex-Gitmo detainees were, they seem to be backtracking on their promises long before the whirlwind has settled.

My observation is strengthened and grounded in the facts contained in a publication on Ghanaweb under their General News of Thursday, 28 January 2016, titled, “US Senators: Stop aid to Ghana if Gitmo 2 escape”, and as readily verifiable from the web link below.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/US-Senators-Stop-aid-to-Ghana-if-Gitmo-2-escape-411350

America is at liberty to withdraw the financial aid they give to Ghana. It is their sole prerogative to do what they want with their money. However, to tell Ghanaians that they may dock millions of US$ from the financial aid they give to prop Ghana’s economy should we allow the two ex-Gitmo detainees to escape, is a double slap in the face.

The ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees are not free men after all. People had been arguing in their favour that they were, or are, not, terrorists and that for pretty well over fourteen years; America could not charge them with any single crime. If they were or are not terrorists or persons who are dangerous, hence not needing to be monitored closely by the nation’s security personnel with their access probably restricted, why are the Americans issuing such threats and ultimatums to Ghanaians?

Is a greater part of the aid they give with the intention of assisting the poor not finds its way into the pockets of our few corrupt politicians and leaders? Is the aid worthwhile considering the string attached – accept dangerous ex-Gitmo detainees or terrorists who have the potential to indoctrinate the nation’s moderate Muslims?

If it was not true that President Mahama had never been able to take any sensible decision on his own since his infancy, the fact he himself has acknowledged in his published book, he would not secretly have negotiated for a year, but only to bring into Ghana these two dangerous ex-Gitmo detainees.

The ex-detainees may still see themselves as in prison, whether they have been placed in large fenced compound house with CCTV monitored cameras and armed security personnel, or their movements restricted to a city, town, village or a region with 24/7 hours security surveillance. Will they be happy to be restricted in their movements again having probably been so restricted and maltreated at Guantanamo Bay?

For the attempted satisfaction of President Mahama’s insatiable greed and insane quest for wealth by foul means, look what he has brought upon the heads of all discerning Ghanaians.

Whether you are an NDC, NPP, PPP or CPP faithful, when the ex-Gitmo detainees or their agents and assigns strike, we shall all, including the clueless and most unprecedentedly corrupt, if not incompetent, President, be in the same sinking or burning ship.

To avoid further unnecessary economic and security hardships being brought to bear heavily on our head, let us vote to change President Mahama and his government from power during election 2016, for once bitten twice shy.

Rockson Adofo