Gov’t denies benefitting financially from Gitmo transfer

The Government of Ghana has dismissed claims that it would benefit from the transfer of prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay by the United States of America.

The Government on Wednesday announced that it had accepted to offer residence to some discharged prisoners of the popular hardcore prison.

The decision, according to a statement signed by foreign affairs minister Hanna Tetteh, was at the request of the US government.

Similarly, government has also agreed to provide shelter to some displaced persons from Rwanda, Yemen and Syria.

The identities of the inmates have been revealed as Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby.

“Bin Atef is an admitted member of the Taliban and fought for Usama bin Laden, while Al-Dhuby trained with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan,” the US-based FOX News reported.

A section of the public including international relations expert Professor Keith Bluwey said the Mahama-led administration was accepting the prisoners because they would benefit financially from the transfer.

Member of Parliament for Subin and a member of the Foreign Affairs committee of parliament Isaac Osei also stated that he suspects a ‘side-deal’ between the governments of Ghana and US hence the decision to house the ex-prisoners from the hardcore jail.

But speaking on Morning Starr Thursday, Deputy Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu dismissed the claims saying Ghana would not in any way benefit financially from the transfer.

He added that the US government would cover for all their financial needs and would not be a burden on Ghana financially.