Guantanamo Detainees Transfer To Ghana

The transfer of the two Guantanamo detainees Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby to Ghana has caused a lot of stir and generated a lot of debate in the media and rightly so due to the bizarre circumstances and nature under which their transfer deal was conducted.

It is shocking that even Parliament was unaware of the whole transfer process which presumably had been going on for almost a year. “A US official told the Guardian that quiet negotiations with Ghana to take Guantanamo detainees unfolded over the past year.”(www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/06/us-releases-two-yemeni-guantanamo-bay-detainees) It appears to me that the Law makers got to know of it after the detainees had actually landed in the country. Wow! ‘Real Democracy’ at play in Ghana.

Traditionally, Ghana had always fulfilled its commitments to the United Nations when required. But this time Ghana was not honouring its UN obligations but honouring a ‘friendly’ request from a FRIEND (USA) in time of need.

There is nothing wrong with Ghana helping the US when they ask for our assistance. Ghana had sought a number of assistance from the United States in the past which they had provided and continue to provide. The issue with this particular request is the way and manner in which the whole arrangement was conducted. It looked like an arrangement done by a few individuals within the government with the US Officials over coffee and vodka in a very dubious manner. The Ghanaian Officials clearly failed to consult Parliament to seek their approval, knowing very well that their actions in the entire negotiation could affect national security and for that, Parliament should invite them to answer some questions.

President Barack Obama had pledged to close the detention centre before leaving office and that prompted the formation of an inter-agency Guantanamo Review Task Force comprising representatives from the Departments of Defence, Homeland Security, Justice, and State; the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence who periodically will review the detainees under stringent scrutiny and finally decide which ones are to be freed.

According to the U.S. Department of Defence, in the case of Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby the two individuals meet the statutory standards of transfer prescribed by the Guantanamo Review Task Force and thus their transfer was consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment.

In a US Dept. of Def Release No. NR-003-16 it states “ As directed by the president's Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of these cases. As a result of those reviews, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, Atef and Al-Dhuby were unanimously approved for transfer by the six departments and agencies comprising the task force.”

As a matter of fact these two individuals having been disconnected from their masters for nearly 14 years and for what they may have gone through whilst in the camp may not really be a threat to the US even if they are released into their system. Because the US has the capability, resources and manpower to monitor them 24/7. But it will be odd for US to integrate them into their system especially after detaining them for nearly 14 years without charge. But what about Ghana; Have we got the resources and manpower to monitor them 24/7 for the entire duration of their stay?

DANGER

The real issue with these two individuals is not what they are going to do to Ghanaians in terms of harm during their two-year stay in the country but their capability of swaying our Muslim youth. Also what is going to happen to them after the two years? Where will they go after the two years? My fear is what they can inculcate into our Muslim youth if they are not checked and monitored during their two year stay. Frankly, there is very little they can contribute to Ghana in terms of education as there is very little they can be proud of when one checks their educational background except perhaps a few military training acquired during their stint with al-Qaida. If they are not monitored and mentored intensively to fit into the society then I’m afraid our good natural hospitality would be questionable and be rendered a total farce?

WAY FORWARD

I am sure the US government has provided enough funds for their rehabilitation and resettlement since they were not charged with any terrorist crimes apart from the fact that they were connected and trained by al-Qaida.” The Guardian stated that, “neither Bin Atef nor Dhuby is considered a senior member of al-Qaida. According to leaked military documents from 2006, Dhuby “probably” fought at the December 2001 battle of Tora Bora in Afghanistan alongside al-Qaida.”

In my view so long as these guys are not reconnected with their masters it may be possible to transform them and integrate them into the more vibrant and peaceful Ghanaian Muslim system. The National Chief Imam can assist in this effort purely to show and demonstrate to the whole world that Ghana can lead when it comes to showing compassion, tolerance and humanitarianism. We will be able to accommodate them if only they are willing to sever ties with their former masters and abide by the laws of the country or they will be shown the Ghanaian RED CARD meted out to persons charged as dangerous persons. They can bet our security agencies have the capabilities to show them that discipline when they flout the laws of the country. They will soon know they have come to the land of Freedom and Justice.

Douglas Chartey (UK)