The Mahama regime changed the names of two former Gitmo detainees being hosted in Ghana and secured them travel documents, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has revealed.

Although Abdul Malik Kweku Baako did not disclose the new names given to the 'Gitmo 2' as they have become known prominently in the country, he said decision to issue the conventional travel document was done "covertly” without recourse to the proper procedure adding, not the entirety of the Ghana Refugee Board was not aware of it.

“It was processed in a very different way in collaboration with the National Security…not the entirety of the [Refugee] Board was aware of it,” the experienced journalist disclosed Saturday on weekly news analysis programme on JoyNews TV, Newsfile.

The new twist came to light following comments by Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, suggesting that the "refugee passports" granted Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, were retrieved immediately they used them to register onto the National Health Insurance Scheme and opened bank accounts in order to access certain basic social services.

It followed the revelation by the current administration that it could not repatriate the two former terror suspects after the expiration of an agreement with the US government because, its predecessor under John Mahama, granted them refugee status and procured passports for them.

“There is no way the two detainees will be deported because they are now refugees in the country. When we took over power, it was revealed that the Mahama administration wanted to change their names so they can be part of us. They have secured them Ghanaian passports,” Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu told Adom FM, Thursday, January 25.

Justifying why the Mahama administration had to issue the passports, Mr Fuseini explained, the government needed to facilitate their integration into Ghanaian society after the agreement with the US government for them to be hosted in the country for two years, expired on January 6, 2018.

“Integration meant that we have to give them an opportunity to open bank accounts so they needed identification…so they applied to the Ghana Refugee Board [which] gave them a refugee document,” the former Lands Minister said.

But the US government raised concerns about the decision by Ghana to issue travel documents to the duo because, in the agreement, they were not to travel outside of the host country.

The government then retrieved the passports after they were used to access their NHIS cards and opened bank accounts and handed them over to the national security, Inusah Fuseini stated.

Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby

“Immediately they got those documents and accessed those services, those documents were taken away from them and given to the national security,” he said.

But Kweku Baako countered this claim and produced documents which he said proved that the Gitmo 2 still have in their possession, the travel documents given them by the previous regime with their names changed. 

He held on to providing further details.

He was also surprised to have discovered that “not a hint of Gitmo 2” was captured in the ‘bulky’ handing over notes of the Interior Minister at the time the Akufo-Addo government came to office.

“It’s [passports] not been withdrawn; it’s with them, take it from me,” he charged.

Kweku Baako also revealed how the Interior Ministry under the Mahama regime advised against the agreement citing letters from the Ministry signed by Deputy Interior Minister at the time, James Agalga.

James Agalga

“The Ministry for the Interior advised against acceptance; raising security concerns, I have the letter here signed by Agalga,” he said.

The letter, according to Mr Baako said, “it was inappropriate; there were security challenges and could have political implications” and therefore advised against acceptance.

But cabinet ignored the advice went into the agreement, Mr Baako said.

Watch the discussion: