GITMO 2: Ghana’s Refugee law is clear, act now - Fmr Dep AG dares gov’t

Former Deputy Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine has dared the NPP government to deport the GITMO 2 if it deems fit.

According to the former Deputy Attorney General under the John Mahama administration, the GITMO 2 were granted a refugee status because they comported themselves in a befitting manner during their stay in the country.

This he said, if the NPP government have a contrary view, they “now have the executive power so they should do whatever they want,”

Dr Dominic Ayine’s comment comes as a reaction to a statement made on the floor of Parliament on January 24 2018 by the Foreign Minister suggesting that the past NDC administration granted a refugee status to the GITMO 2 nationals before the end of their mandatory two-year stay in Ghana hence making it practically impossible to return the GITMO 2.

In an interview with JOY FM, Dr Dominic Ayine noted that, much as no exit plan was put out in the agreement, both parties knew the deal was to last for only two years.

However, referencing the Refugee Law 1992, he dared the incumbent government that if it feels the past government erred they can interrogate the issue and possibly revoke their status because the law allows that.

“If they are saying their hands are tight because we granted them refugee status our refugee laws is very clear if you read section 15 and 17 of the refugee law, a refugee status can be withdrawn and you don’t need the agreement of the refugee in order to withdraw the refugee”

The GITMO 2, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, who were alleged members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda were detained for 14 years at the Guantanamo Bay prison.
They were then moved to Ghana after President Obama moved to close down the detention centre, which is known to have had a questionable human rights record over the years.

Scores of Ghanaians including the then-opposition New Patriotic Party described the two as a security threat despite assurances by the US. A diplomatic agreement reached between the Mahama government and the US in January 2016 required Ghana to take a decision on their stay after two years.

However, the Foreign minister briefing parliament today said there was no discussion of an exit plan between Ghana and the US which meant that immediately the stay expired, the US government is not obliged to take them back.

Gitmo 2 married while in Ghana

Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey says the GITMO 2 currently in Ghana have married after they were brought from the US in 2016.

"Both of them have married. But no not to Ghanaians," she said, hinting the two brides were brought in from other countries.

 

 

primenewsghana/Ghana News