Don't bring religion into controversy over Gitmo detainees, Mahama told

President John Mahama’s appeal to Ghanaians to show Christian compassion and accommodate the two former terror suspects has been criticized.

Adom FM Editor Afia Pokuaa wants Ghanaians to reject the appeal insisting that in matters of national security, religion-inspired appeals should have no place.

Taking questions from journalists at a press briefing Monday, President John Mahama assured the nation that the two detainees – pose no threat to Ghana’s security. He asked for a faith-based understanding and approach to the issues involving the settling of the Yemini nationals in Ghana for two years.

“In the Bible, it teaches us to be compassionate to prisoners…we must also look at the side of compassion"

"…where is our Christian passion or where is our faith-based compassion on people that after being detained for 14 years without trial, we can’t find it in our hearts to give these people at least a chance to restart their lives”.

The more than two-hour interaction with journalists was reviewed on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show with panelists, Adom FM editor Gladys Afia Pokuaa, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah and Finder newspaper Editor, Elvis Darko.

While the three media practitioners praised the President for opening up his government for accountability, they also expressed reservations on the matter of the Gitmo detainees.

Host of Adom FM’s Burning Issues, Afia Pokuaa condemned the president for trying to shore up religious sentiments to cure public fears.

“For him to even dabble in religion is very dangerous….even in Europe and America they are trying to do this discussion about terrorism devoid of religion...it is very dangerous.”

She advised the president must desist from underestimating the peaceful religious co-existence the country enjoys when it comes to terrorism.

According to her, religious sentiments must not disguise the reality that Ghana is dealing with suspected fundamentalists.

The radio presenter wants the President to listen to Ghanaians and send the Gitmo detainees back.

Afia Pokuaa wants John Mahama to be “calm enough, humble enough [to] go back to the Americans and tell them that our people are not happy with this thing”.

The president should calculate the electoral consequence of his decisions, she pointed out.

But Communications Minister Omane Boamah expressed surprise that the President’s appeal has been criticized as out of place.

Omane Boamah
He said even Pope Francis has made compassion a central theme in his book, "The Name of God is Mercy".

Portions of the book set to be released Tuesday reads "The Church does not exist to condemn people but to bring about an encounter with the visceral love of God's mercy," adding that "humanity is wounded, deeply wounded".

Omane Boamah also criticized the head of the Catholic Bishop Conference Bishop Osei Bonsu who also told President John Mahama to balance compassion with common sense.

The Communications Minister said he was “sincerely taken back” by the Bishop’s comments in view of Pope Francis’ stated commitment to show compassion.

Omane Boamah recalled Pope John Paul II who was shot four times on Wednesday, 13 May 1981, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican City. The Pope was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali while he was entering the square.

But the Pope forgave his would-be assassin and managed to secure his freedom from prison in 2000.