We’re not in Ghana for revenge – Gitmo detainees speak

The two Guantanamo Bay ex-detainees, whose presence in Ghana has provoked outrage among a section of public, have indicated that they are not in Ghana for revenge.

In their first radio interview since they arrived in Ghana, the two, ahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, also denied belonging to terrorist groups.

Stressing that they had been illegally and unjustifiably detained by the Americans in Guantanamo Bay for several years, they said their priority now was to live in Ghana quietly and peacefully and to get their lives back on track.

“We have been wrongly arrested for 14 years without any charge against us. We have suffered but we are not looking for revenge. We want to live in Ghana quietly and peacefully. And we want to put our lives together,” they told Accra-based Uniiq FM.

Although many Ghanaians have expressed anger and displeasure at their presence in Ghana out of fear that they could attract extremists to the country, the two still went ahead to express gratitude to their hosts.

They described Ghanaians as nice and hospitable people, adding that they were excited to be in the country.

“We are very happy for the warm reception that Ghana is known for. Ghanaians are very good people. We are very excited to come to Ghana because we know some of the things about Ghana.

“We are not part of any group for example Al-Qaeda or other things, we don’t belong to any part of them. We are healed, we want to leave very normal lives. Allah bless you and the people of Ghana,” they said.