We Can't Force The Return Of Gitmo Ex-Detainees...US Gov't Won't Permit Ghana - Pratt

Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt has hinted that calls by Ghanaians and various stakeholders in the country for government to extradite the Gitmo detainees to the United States may not be heeded, claiming the US government will not permit it.

According to him, Ghana will need permission and co-operation from the US government to take the Guantanamo Bay ex-detainees back; something he thinks will be a hurdle to surmount. 

He told host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Kokrokoo on Peace FM that the Government of Ghana “can’t use force to return the two detainees. We need the cooperation and permission of the American government to return them to America. They won’t give you that cooperation. They won’t grant you that permission to do such a thing. Whether our people like it or not, America won’t permit us to extradite them.

Government’s decision to accept two detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison has outraged the public with several Ghanaians making earnest appeals for their return amidst fears that they may pose security threat to the nation.

The Christian Council has also added its voice to calls on government to send the detainees back to Guantanamo Bay.

Speaking to the issue on Tuesday morning, Mr. Pratt expressed worry over the agreement between the two States that necessitated the transfer of the detainees.

He described government's decision as unacceptable and wrong, and further dismissed suggestions the transfer of the ex-detainees to the country is righting the wrongs of the United States.

He held strongly that giving refuge to the two ex-detainees in Ghana is as worse as locking them up in the United States and a violation of their rights which can, in no way be justified.

To Mr. Pratt, housing the detainees in Ghana is a “continuation of the violation of their rights” since they have not been served with the right justice.