The two ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees whose arrival in the country has provoked security concerns have allayed the fears of Ghanaians, saying they want to live in the country “quite and peacefully”
In an interview with the State-run Uniiq FM in Accra Monday, the two dissociated themselves from any terrorist group, noting that they were wrongfully arrested for 14 years without any charges whatsoever against them.
“We are not a part of any group..for example Al-Qaida or other things. We don’t belong to any part of them. We are here, we want to live very normal life… we want to put our lives together,” one of them said.
The two – Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby – arrived in Ghana on January 6 in a humanitarian deal with Pentagon. Their arrival has since been met with stiff opposition from Ghanaians who have condemned the government’s decision.
Some security experts have argued the presence of the two former detainees could put the country’s security at risk considering their background but the government believes otherwise, arguing that the two have been thoroughly screened.
Meanwhile, the two have thanked the people of Ghana and President Mahama for the warm reception received so far saying, “We are very heavy for the warm reception that Ghana is known for… In the name of Allah, we want to thank the President and the good people of Ghana for this decision they made for accepting us. Allah bless you President and people of Ghana”
According to them, they have known about Ghana while they were at detention, indicating that they and other inmates at the Guantanamo Bay camp were in support of the national footbal team, the Black Stars at the 2010 World Cup”.
They particularly mentioned captain Asamoah Gyan as someone they really like, saying “We like him very much. Not just us, most people out there, even other detainees. They like Ghanaians”
Source: 3news.com By Stephen Kwabena Effah|
