Audio By Carbonatix
The Majority in Parliament has denied claims by the Minority that government is breaching the Intelligence and Securities Act over its failure to brief the House on the status of the ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees in the country.
Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in an open letter to the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, demanded updated information on the two.
He said the country’s laws require the Minister to present an annual report on the intelligence agencies to parliament but he has not done that in two years.
He gave the government a 25-day ultimatum to submit the report or face legal action.
However, Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Seth Acheampong, insists government has been fulfilling the requirements of the law through closed-door meetings.
He said the committee will meet the minister when Parliament resumes sitting to get an update on the status of the Guantanamo Bay detainees.
The two Yemenis, Mahmud Umar Muhammed Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, were resettled in Ghana in January 2016 following an agreement between the John Mahama government and the Barack Obama led-U.S. administration.
They were detained at the Guantanamo Bay for 14 years after they were linked to the terrorist group, Al-Qaeda but were later released as part of US government's plan to shut down the facility.
Their stay in Ghana ended on January 6, 2018, but the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said the men have been granted a refugee status without its knowledge.
The Minority believes that “the current worsening insecurity situation which has attracted unprecedented domestic and international concern in the aftermath of the assassination of undercover journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, numerous cases of apparent contract killings, the circumstances of Nana Appiah Mensah's escape from the jurisdiction and the kidnapping of the Takoradi ladies - all of these call for an urgent and unwavering commitment to our constitutional and legal obligations which as you know better than many of us are designed to guarantee our collective security.”
Listen to Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Seth Acheampong, defend government’s handling of matter to Joy News’ Joseph Opoku Gakpo in the audio below.
Latest Stories
-
IMF optimistic about Ghana’s post-programme outlook, urges sustained fiscal discipline
14 minutes -
DVLA impounds 40 vehicles over fake DP stickers at Tema Harbour
15 minutes -
OSP exists to deliver on corruption fight – Srem-Sai
18 minutes -
The wind brings dust and death; Experts say northern Ghana’s Meningitis crisis is predictable and preventable
22 minutes -
IPMC donates computer labs, Starlink devices, incinerators and solar street lights worth GH¢1.6m to GetFund
28 minutes -
Chinese carmaker patents voice-controlled ‘in-vehicle toilet’
31 minutes -
Asante Kotoko deny ‘AWOL’ claims as coach Owusu ‘duly sought permission’
46 minutes -
AG’s office will grant OSP prosecution authorisation on request — Srem Sai
52 minutes -
AG’s Department had no hand in OSP court case — Deputy AG pushes back on “sabotage” narrative
54 minutes -
Adu Kwabena ‘working hard’ to reach Europe’s top five leagues
1 hour -
Mahama fully committed to fighting corruption – Deputy AG
1 hour -
AG’s Department can “look good” without prosecuting corruption that’s why OSP matters, says Deputy AG
1 hour -
Mahama’s gov’t isn’t against OSP – Deputy AG
1 hour -
Ghanaians building alcohol tolerance through excess drinking – Prof Calys-Tagoe
1 hour -
‘World Cup is not a small thing’ – Adu Kwabena targets Black Stars squad place
1 hour