Gitmo row: Form committee to advice Mahama

The Coalition of Muslim Organizations, Ghana (COMOG) has waded into the controversy surrounding the transfer of two Guantanamo Bay detainees to Ghana by asking government to appoint a special committee to advise on the matter.

Government’s decision to accept to resettle the Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo Bay prison has been met with criticism from a number of religious groups.

Speaking to Citi News, the General Secretary of COMOG, Hajj Abdel Manan Abdel Rahman, said the ongoing media discussions will only fuel religious and political tensions.

He argued that the special committee is necessary to investigate and make recommendations that will guide decisions on the matter.

“So COMOG is suggesting that to ensure that Ghana is kept together… we should have an eminent group, individuals of international repute and those who have international relations background, those who have security background so that they having that kind of experience will be able to use their experience to bear on big issues that will be tabled before them.”

According to him, this proposed group made up of experts will be able to advise the government and the public adequately on matters such as these.

Hajj Abdel Manan Abdel Rahman said, “they will use their expertise on the information before them and then they will be able to advise the president and advice the general public accordingly.”

“By so doing, we would be managing the discussions on our airwaves,” he added.

Hajj Abdel Manan Abdel Rahman further stated that his organisation has not adopted a stance on the decision to accept the two former detainees because of the divided opinion.

“We haven’t got any position for now because of the polarised nature of the situation,” he added.