The government should have better prepared its citizens over taking in two ex-detainees from Guantanamo Bay, the director of Amnesty International Ghana says.
ADVERTISEMENT
Education over detainees needed - Amnesty International
“We are part of a global world, therefore we have a responsibility to support the world when it comes to these issues": Lawrence Amesu - Amnesty International Ghana.
___4546013___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___4546013___2016___1___11___16___IMG_0868
Recommended articles
On the 14th anniversary of the Guantanamo detention centre, Amnesty’s Ghana director Lawrence Amesu said Ghana was upholding its international obligations in accepting the ex-detainees as well as Syrian refugees.
The two ex-detainees, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, arrived in Ghana on Thursday January 7 for a two-year stay as part of a deal reached between the United States of America and the Government of Ghana.
The men were originally from Yemen and have been associated with the Taliban, Usama bin Laden and Al Qaeda.
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking with pulse.com.gh, Amesu said the public outrage over Ghana accepting the men was due to a lack of education over the issue, which caused much “hullabaloo”.
The public opinion that Ghana should not take the detainees was down to the “terrorist” name attached to them, Amesu said.
He wanted to allay fears over the issue: “for the Government to stick out its head and say that other citizens should come means that due diligence has been done, so I don’t think they should be worried so much.”
He said Ghana is peace-loving and hospitable with a history of welcoming refugees, referring back to the 1990s when Liberian refugees needed to be relocated and most countries in West Africa refused them, but Ghana accepted.
“Ghanaians will not object to visitors coming in so much. I think they are vehemently opposed to this situation becamse of the name terrorists. I don’t think Ghanaians are psychologically prepared for this. The news just came as a surprise to everybody.”
ADVERTISEMENT
However, he believed the government had assessed the economic, political and security risks of the men, and would have found they would not have a negative affect.
At the same time the move showed Ghana was exercising global responsibility.
“We are part of a global world, therefore we have a responsibility to support the world when it comes to these issues,” he said.
“We are not isolated and can not say our support can only be for our people. We have to share the cake with other people as well as long as we remain part of the world.”
Amesu was "surprised" at the Ghana Christian Council calling for President John Mahama to reverse the decision to allow the Yemeni men in.
ADVERTISEMENT
"The Christian Council is a religious institution and therefore I would think they would be prone to promote human rights.”
Speaking on the Syrian refugees Ghana was accepting, Amesu said Amnesty International has been vocal on the issue all over the globe, advocating “the world should open up its doors to support refugees”.
He felt accepting refugees was “very good and very positive” as it showed Ghana was contributing to global efforts to help those displaced in Syria.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
Nana Addo assures he will prioritize the welfare of cocoa farmers
Truck driver arrested for allegedly causing train accident on Tema-Mpakadan railway line
Kia driver who caused accident involving Ghana’s new train reports himself to Police
No passenger injured in accident involving Ghana’s newly imported train – Railways Minister
NAGRAT gives govt one-week deadline to address unpaid pensions affecting 700,000 workers
Inside story of how Ghana’s new train got involved in accident on a test run
3 years after he was declared dead, German-American billionaire found in Russia
She sent naked photos to Dubai lover while I battled kidney disease - Erico speaks on divorce
