GITMO2: DOES GHANA’S PRESIDENT HAVE THE BALLS? – ELIKEM KOTOKO QUESTIONS

Elikem Kotoko, a known youth activist has expressed reservation over the character of president Nana Akufo-Addo. The former student leader, stated categorically that president Nana Akufo-Addo does not have the “balls” to carry out the decision of the supreme court which favoured his position while in opposition.

Elikem Kotoko, who is a known outspoken and fearless critique of this government maintained that his position stems from the fact that it was obvious Ghana’s president cannot and will not dare to deport the Gitmo2 because even the diplomatic consequences may be unbearable for his government.

Mr. Kotoko has never shied away from speaking his mind as he has been known to be such a maverick and he has always stated that he has always placed Ghana first in all things. He also stressed that the campaign message by the then candidate Akufo-Addo was populist and the reality of the situation now should serve as a wakeup call to his government.

“The Supreme Court of the Republic of Ghana has given a ruling and over 95% of Ghanaians expect that in as much as an option of ratification was given to government to “legalise” the stay of the Gitmo2, that option will be turned down by the Nana Akufo-Addo-led government.

Prior to the 2016 elections, then candidate Akufo-Addo made every effort to bastardise the decision of president John Mahama for allowing two Guantanamo bay detainees into the country by inciting a sense of insecurity, state of fear, etc, in every citizen. Interestingly the clergy, civil groups and supposed religious bodies took to their heels onto roof tops just to make noise over this. One wondered how such men in cassock could call themselves men of God if they could not help in converting two terrorists to become candidates of heaven, granted they were terrorists which they were not” says Elikem Kotoko.

Nana Akufo-Addo called on every patriotic Ghanaian at the time to protest the decision by President Mahama because it was a selfish decision, equally accusing the president of not giving full disclosure on the agreement with the US government to bring in this detainees: Khalid Mohammed Salih al Dhuby and Mahmmoud Omar Mohammed Bin Atef. Today, thankfully the once loud Mr. William Akufo-Addo is president and the supreme court of Ghana has ruled in his favour. Will he act and prove to be principled as he has touted himself to be or he will make a U-turn.

When asked if he believes the government will turn to the legislative to seek refuge and make the two detainees continue their stay in the country, this is what he had to say. “He (Nana Akufo-Addo) and his government has absolutely no business making any attempt to submit to parliament any request for the legislature to ratify the stay of these two. This stems from the fact that already they made it obvious that the two gentleman ought to be deported to the USA where they came from and I believe strongly the clergy and other religious bodies as well as Think-tanks which have become Water-tanks are watching closely what the next step of the Commander-in-Chief of the GAF will be.”

Mr. Kotoko also stated that this indeed is going to be the first test of the true character of the president, many believe it will be a determinant of how Ghanaians will see their president; truthful, decisive and principled or not.

Ghana is watching and the world is on standby to read from the tabloids what this government’s next step will be: will they shamefully eat a humble pie, swallow their pride, deflate their own ego and retain the Gitmo2 or they will keep to their words and deport them, whatever be the decision it will have some dire consequences. In conclusion Mr. Kotoko, a former Coordinating Secretary of the Ghana National Union of Polytecnic Students, GNUPS stated that Ghanaians will not accept an apology from this government again for failure to return the detainees to the USA, since there has already been too many apologies from the government from when the president’s speech was found out to be plagiarized, Invincible and Delta Forces abused a judge, Bugri Naabu vrs Otiko Djaba’s banter, Savelugu youth aplogising for their reckless acts upon the president’s appointment of an MCE, etc
The Supreme Court decision had six justices approving it, with Justice Wiliam Atuguba dissenting.

What do you think will be this government’s decision on the Gitmo2?