A Security Analyst, Dr. Ishmael Norman, says one major reason why Ghana has been spared when it comes to terrorist attacks is because of former President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to host the two Guantánamo Bay detainees in Ghana.
According to him, the former President’s "wise" decision has absolved Ghana from being an enemy of terrorists.
“I believe that the only reason why we have been spared after Togo, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso so far is because of the wise decision by former President John Dramani Mahama to accept those two Guantánamo Bay prisoners in Ghana."
This makes the country a good neighbour to have, he added.
He maintained that with the decision, “we showed to the rest of the world that you may be accused by others of being a terrorist, but we will receive you as a neighbor.”
Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Monday, he insisted that the preventive measures put in place to avert any invasion have nothing to do with why Ghana has not been attacked yet.
Although he agreed that preparation is important, he said it is not the main factor protecting Ghana from terrorist attacks.
“The fact that we have not been attacked is not because of our security or preparedness. Nigeria is bigger, richer, and has more military than Ghana. Togo is a small country as it is having more military staff than Ghana so if in spite of all these, terrorists can be audacious to attack Togo and the Ivory Coast it is not because of our preparedness alone.
“There must be an x-factor and for me, the x-factor is because of how we were kind to receive the Guantánamo Bay detainees; [besides] there are a lot of issues in Ghana that make Ghana a fertile ground for such activities,” he said.
Background
Mahama-led administration, in 2016, received two Yemeni nationals from the United States government.
The two detainees, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, who were in detention for 14 years after being linked with the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, were brought to Ghana in 2016, for a period of two years.
They were released as part of efforts to close down the US-operated Guantánamo Bay prison, which is known to have had a questionable human rights record over the years.
The move was criticized by many observers, including the then-in-opposition New Patriotic Party, who described the two as a security threat despite assurances to the contrary by the US.
Latest Stories
-
Afenyo-Markin challenges Ahiafor’s sub judice ruling, calls it ‘dangerous precedent’
29 minutes -
Mahama instructs Armed Forces to escort all vehicles in Bawku area
34 minutes -
African artists, global awards, and the fight for visibility
48 minutes -
This Saturday on Newsfile: GRNMA strike, ORAL probe into NSA, shut down of 64 radio stations
1 hour -
19 arrested in raid on drug and robbery dens at Kasoa Dominase, Onion Market
2 hours -
Luv FM High Schools Debate heats up as top schools advance to Round of 16
2 hours -
Asantehene urges chiefs to offer lands as equity for farming
2 hours -
GhanaFest Alberta 2025 launch ignites diaspora business momentum
2 hours -
22-year-old hearing-impaired man allegedly dies by suicide after rape accusation
3 hours -
CAETE 2025: MDF seals 10k jobs deal with China’s Yixintai Group
3 hours -
Climate Change: AGN Chair emphasises importance of Africa’s unity in global negotiations
3 hours -
TV stations risk prosecution over pirated content – Copyright Office warns
3 hours -
Anointed Engineering donates ‘Borla Macho III’ tricycle to support sanitation drive in Accra
4 hours -
CLOGSAG threatens strike in 2 weeks over delayed conditions of service
4 hours -
Resolve energy issues, don’t burden Ghanaians with new taxes – Tax Analyst
4 hours