Government’s Acceptance Of Guantanamo Detainees Irresponsible And Despotic—Says GUPS

The Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS) is utterly appalled at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration’s reckless decision to house Mamud Umar Mohammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby former hardcore detainees of Guantanamo Bay; a decision that has got students panicking and living on tenterhooks.

The Union asserts that the United States with all its military might, defence intelligence and vast resources could shoot down the decision to repatriate the ex-detainees through Congress, and a decision taken in the best interest of its citizens, then government of Ghana should have employed a similar approach to allow our legislators make the best of such an arrangement.

The Ghana Union of Professional Students is much aware of our porous borders, how our security has failed to deal with mere market infernos and other social issues. We believe our security is not in the best of shapes to combat any insurgence should we become a point of target.

The Union is disappointed in the executive arm of government for taking a decision that does not serve the interest of students and Ghanaians at large. At a time when students have to grapple with high cost of tuition, and payment of utility bills, we believe government was ill-advised and plainly oligarchic in handling this sensitive matter that exposes students to risk.

The Union condemns this ill action of the executive arm of government and advises all students to be security conscious and be on red alert as public safety is not assured because the two ex-detainees are described by the Pentagon and New York Times as men who pose high and medium risk to society.

Signed:
Elorm Mawuli-Kwawu
(National President)
020 900 97 27 / [email protected]