Ghana’s president John Mahama has moved to quell fears that the two Guantanamo Bay prisoners allowed into the West African country pose any danger.
Two former Guantanamo Bay prisoners expressed their gratitude to Ghana for allowing them into the country following their release.
The two Yemenis, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, were held at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as enemy combatants, accused of training with al-Qaida and fighting with the Taliban.
They had been cleared for release in 2009, but the US would not send them to Yemen because of the instability there, prompting officials to find another country to accept them.
President Mahama on Tuesday urged residents not to be fearful of the two Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Mahama said that the country took in the detainees after a direct request by the U.S. government, with whom he said Ghana has been partners in every sphere. He said “no monetary consideration was made to us” to accept them.
Mahama reassured the public saying “I will not take any decision that will jeopardize the safety of the nation.”
