Two Ex-Guantanamo Bay Detainees Express Gratitude to President Mahama


The two Guantanamo Bay detainees who have arrived in Ghana have expressed gratitude to President Mahama for granting them residence. 


In an exclusive interview with Radio Ghana's Pascaline Adadevoh,the two Mahmoud and Khalid said they do not have links with any terrorist group and pledged to live peacefully and quietly here.

Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a military prison facility in Cuba established in 2002 on a land still occupied by the US. 

Mahmoud Umar Bin Latif and Khalid Al-Dhuby, are two of seventeen detainees released from the Prison and are from Yemen. 

For fourteen years, Mahmoud and Khalid had been in prison without any charge. 

The two prisoners were cheerful throughout the interview. 

According to Mahmoud they are not bitter about the treatment at the bay and neither are they seeking any revenge. 

They promised their two years stay in Ghana will be peaceful

Asked if they had any knowledge about Ghana even before coming in, Mahmoud had some fond memories to share

Mahmoud reiterated their commitment not to engage in any crime that will destabilise the security of the otherwise peaceful country. 

Eye brows have been raised by many Ghanaians over the safety of the country with the two domiciled here.

There are photos of the two detainees on social media. One of the photos with a man spotting a long hair is Mahmoud taken eleven years ago. 

Mahmoud currently wears a short hair. 

The second photo has a man with a white beard, that however is not Khalid, the second detainee. 

Mahmoud and Khalid though happy in Ghana, would have wished to return to their home country Yemen but that country is currently in crisis.


GBC