Former Akuapem North MCE slams Akufo-Addo appointee over Gitmo 2

A former Akuapem North Municipal Chief Executive has taken a dead aim at the Deputy National Service Secretariat Director, describing his 2016 Gitmo 2 suit as needless.

Opare Addo said Nana Boakye popularly known as Nana B would have been more informed if he had asked for details of the past administration’s agreement with the US government on the detainee transfer.

Speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Friday, the aspiring National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Youth Organiser defended the acceptance of the two Yemenis into the country.

Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey recently disclosed the two ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees – Mahmud Umar Bin Atef and Muhammed Salih Al Dhuby – who have been in Ghana for the past two years have been given a refugee status.

Her revelation contradicted the agreement signed between the John Mahama regime and Barack Obama-led US administration in 2016. The men were to spend only two years in Ghana but they are now refugees.

The matter went to court in 2016 following a suit filed by Mr Boakye and one Margaret Banful challenging the decision of the then government.

The Supreme Court ruled that the presence of the two was illegal.

But the former MCE said the court case was needless, describing it as a complete waste of time.

“There are various levels of clearance for situations like this; government can’t just reveal all details to the public albeit only what the public needs to know [and] Nana B knows this very well,” he said on the show.

Although he admitted Mr Boakye’s decision to go to court drew praise from the public, he said he only made politics with a sensitive matter.

“President Mahama’s decision to accept the GITMO 2 into the country then was a good one and I fully stand by him,” he added.