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General News on Thursday, January 24, 2019
Source: Starrfmonline.com
2019-01-24
The two former convicts of Guantanamo Bay
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, minority spokesman for Foreign Affairs, wants the government to inform Ghanaians of the situation of the two former Guantanamo Bay detainees living in Ghana.
In January 2016, the Ghanaian government accepted the transfer of two former Yemeni detainees – Mahmoud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby – from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay in the country for a two-year period.
After the expiry of the contract in 2018, the Akufo-Addo government promised to move them.
Mr. Ablakwa, opposition MP for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), wants the Minister of National Security to inform Ghanaians of the location of the duo.
In an open letter to the Minister, he said: "Respectfully, I feel that after a whole year of patient waiting for the government, it is imperative that in this case that presents a huge national interest, you provide an update of The Ghanaian people, as principles of good governance in terms of transparency and accountability, will demand. "
"I humbly hope that you will quickly provide the requested update," added the former vice minister of Education.
Her letter to the Minister of National Security below is:
Open Letter to the Honorable Minister Responsible for National Security
L & # 39; Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah,
Minister of National Security,
Republic of Ghana.
January 24, 2019.
Dear Mr. Kan-Dapaah,
REQUEST FOR UPDATE ON THE TWO EXTRA DETAILS OF GUANTANAMO BAY AND ON THE CONTINUED BREACH OF THE SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION ACT, 1996 (ACT 526)
Please consider my warm compliments duly paid.
Today, January 24, 2019, it is exactly one year since you have joined your colleagues: the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Interior and Defense, have ostensibly informed Parliament of the position of the Government of Ghana regarding the status of the two Mahmoud Umar Muhammed Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salid Al-Dhuby, former detainees of Guantanamo Bay, following the expiration on 6 January 2018, bilateral cooperation agreement between the Government of Ghana led by former President John Mahama and the United States Government of America led by former President Barack Obama.
Minister, you will no doubt recall, your fellow ministers, and the good arguments you yourself made to Parliament that day, that the government's decision on the issue is not conclusive. The official record of the parliamentary proceedings of Wednesday, January 24, 2018 summarizes your remarks in this regard in column 85 as follows: "Mr. Mr President, I would like to urge the honorable Members of this august House to take into account the fact that this is a very important and delicate matter. Can we eliminate politics and unite to find an effective solution? "
In the same vein, the Minister of Foreign Affairs told the House as captured in column 59 – "Mr. Mr. Speaker, therefore, the government is forced to explore any other options for the moment and will wait for a thorough review of the issue by the appropriate agencies. "
Subsequently, a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Charles Owiredu, and the then Minister of Information, Dr. Mustapha Hamid, both officially declared that they had informed the media, respectively the January 25 and 29, 2018, that the Akufo-Addo administration is in talks with other countries with a view to relocating ex-inmates from Ghana.
Respectfully, I believe that after a year of patient waiting for the government, it is imperative that, in this matter of considerable national interest, you provide an update to the people of Ghana, because the principles of good governance in the area of transparency and accountability will require:.
My humble expectation is that you now provide the requested update with shipping.
Mr. Minister, I should also bring to your attention your continued violation of subsection 17 (2) of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 1996 (Bill 526) which states: "The Minister responsible for liability under the paragraph (1) of this Article shall: submit annually to Parliament a report on intelligence agencies. "
Mr. Speaker, you have not complied with this provision since you took on the position of Minister of National Security, which undermined Parliament's constitutional mandate of oversight.
As you know, I have always caught your eye and informed Parliament through several statements of this violation of the law. As a result, in the past period, I have tabled questions in Parliament urging you to provide answers to the House on your flagrant violation of Bill 526, particularly under the auspices of Parliament. a president who constantly boasts of his powers under the law.
Having had all my parliamentary efforts to enforce the Act of 1996 on intelligence and security agencies (Act526), with contemptuous disregard, I hereby signify that if the situation remains the same 20 days after January 29, 2019, the resumption of Parliament, I will turn to our highly esteemed courts to compel you to fulfill your obligations under Law 526.
I arrived at this decision because I have practically exhausted all parliamentary processes. Moreover, the worsening of the insecurity situation that is causing unprecedented national and international concern following the badbadination of the underground journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, many cases of alleged murders under contract , the circumstances in which Nana Appiah Mensah escaped from jurisdiction and the abduction of the Takoradi ladies – all call for an urgent and flawless commitment to our constitutional and legal obligations which , as you know better than many of us, are designed to guarantee our collective security.
Regards,
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Member of Parliament, Tongu North
Member of the Standing Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament.
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