Ghana Cannot Return Gitmo Detainees; It’s A Done Deal - US Embassy

The United States Embassy in Accra has explained that it would not be possible to return the Guantanamo detainees which government has accepted to accommodate in Ghana for two years. Many Ghanaians have expressed disagreement with government’s decision on the detainees and have asked that they should be returned but some have however welcomed them and insisted they should be accepted on humanitarian grounds. In an interview on Accra based radio station, Citi FM Friday morning, the Public Affairs Counselor of the US Embassy in Ghana, Mr Daniel Fennell said returning the two men is out of the question since it was a done deal. “I just don’t see that as a possible eventuality, I think this is a positive movement, Ghana is showing leadership, it makes the world safer and better, and it is very little risk to it and we appreciate their leadership, we appreciate their partnership,” Mr Fennel said. There have been arguments and confusion over who was to finance the upkeep of the detainees whilst in Ghana. The confusion emerged when the producers of the television programme, Hot Issues posted a 1:30minutes interview between host Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr and Mr Fennel as a promotional video on Facebook. The programme is scheduled to be aired on TV3 on Saturday January 16, 2016 at midday. In the interview, Mr Fennell reiterated his comments which suggested that Ghana and the US were sharing the costs for the upkeep of the ex-detainees. He had made a similar comment earlier in the week in another interview with Richard Sky on Citi FM. This however contradicts what had earlier been put out by Ghana government that there were no financial commitments on the part of Ghana. In the interview on Citi FM Friday morning Mr Fennell apologized for his earlier comments said the US will provide the financial support whilst Ghana provides the infrastructure and men [security] for the upkeep of the ex-detainees. “…on the cost issue, the United States is bearing the cost … that are necessary to upkeep the detainees that were brought from Guantanamo Bay and the Government of Ghana is in charge of the infrastructure they are in command, and their personnel are in charge of monitoring and so we are infact, if there’s any payment necessary we are the ones that are providing that support so that Ghana doesn’t bear additional financial cost as a result of doing this,” Mr Fennell said. “If I cause any confusion with my private statement, I apologise. In fact the statement I have heard from the Deputy Minister, Felix are absolutely correct, he spoke correctly and very well and I apologise if I caused any confusion by muddying the issue,” Mr Fennell said. He said the United States would not want Ghana to be “out of pocket” on this issue and is therefore contributing money for the upkeep of the prisoners. What was said earlier on Hot Issues Mr Fennell had earlier stated on the television programme: “It’s a shared expense…we are contributing some for the monitoring and upkeep of the individuals. We are contributing some money towards that and the government of Ghana is making all the arrangements and taking care of them.” On the Hot Issues programme, when the host Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr. asked whether government was using tax payers’ money to take care of the former Guantanamo inmates, Mr. Fennel said “I think so” saying “is that so difficult to imagine that Ghana would pay for something that is happening in Ghana?” “I think it’s laudable and we should be proud of Ghana,” he added. Mr. Fennel also said the security of the former detainees is also “a shared cost.” “The government of Ghana under the constitution is responsible for the security of everything in Ghana so they are keeping track at it, they are better at it, they are smart and we think they are doing an excellent job,” he noted. He apologized for his previous comment and said it was misunderstood. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1dDAjb6Two" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Source: Daily Graphic

Nayele Pops Up Again...Threatens To Release Video That Will Cripple Prez Mahama's Gov't

In spite of its commendable performance over the last three years, President John Dramani Mahama and his NDC administration in the coming days will face its severest scandal test should incarcerated cocaine goddess, Nayele Ametefe, carry through an intended threat. A source close to Nayele Ametefe, also known as Angel Adu Gyamfi, who is currently serving eight year jail term in the United Kingdom for carrying 12 kilos of cocaine into the Kingdom, sayS she is threatening to release an explosive X-rated video that is likely to bring the Mahama government on its knees. Even though the Mahama administration has survived plethora of scandals since its inception, the impending embarrassment, our source says, will dwarf and possibly, obliterate all the achievements chalked by the National Democratic Congress government in the last seven years. The cocaine goddess, The aL-hAJJ is reliably informed, is threatening to let out damning sex tapes involving a prominent Chief Executive of a sensitive and major state enterprise and an influential member of the governing party who, despite assurances of securing her freedom after her arrest, has since abandoned her. The said CEO, described as haughty and snobbish and who in recent times suffered bad press, the source revealed, had turned the stunning Nayele into a “night nurse” to the extent that, even the night before her arrest, they had several bouts of sex. Another dependable source close to the jailed Ghanaian/Australian drug dealer told The aL-hAJJ that Nayele has been incensed for being used and dumped by the said CEO who our investigations revealed recently traveled to the UK to plead with her after information hit him that the jailed cocaine baroness was threatening to release the videos. “Nayale is mad at him (the CEO). She feels used and dumped. After turning her into sex machine with the assurance that he will protect her, he abandoned her after her arrest. The most painful aspect is that he slept with her the night before Nayale was arrested,” the source revealed. The source added that “Nayele has several sex videos with him and she has threatened to make them public to avenge what that man did to her. Nayele will not go down alone; that, I can tell you for a fact.” The married under pressure CEO, who is a very powerful official in the Mahama-led NDC government and was also rumored to be eyeing the running mate slot for the November elections, this paper has gathered, has been in long standing amorous relationship with Nayele until her arrest on the night of November 2014 at the Heathrow airport in UK. Reports are that most of the “special” treatments Nayele was accorded during her numerous foreign travels was facilitated by this CEO ‘boyfriend’ who had turned her into a sex slave with a promise she would be adequately protected to avoid arrest for her illicit trade. The Ghanaian/Austrian cocaine dealer was on January 6, 2015 sentenced to eight years and eight months on her own plea by the Isleworth Crown Court in London after she pleaded guilty to carrying 12 kilos of cocaine to the United Kingdom. Briefing the court, lawyer for the single mother of three noted that, Nayele came into contact with powerful people in 2004 and her life changed dramatically. She travelled extensively with influential people as their companion, he stated.

Source: Al-Hajj

Power Sector, My Greatest Challenge…No More Promises - Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has said the most disturbing area of governance that takes up most of his time and attention as president is the power sector. According to him, as close as the country was towards solving the problem of ‘dumsor’, there was still a gap even though there have been some major improvements with supply. He was answering a question on his numerous failed promises to end the energy crisis. Speaking at his Annual Flagstaff Meet The Press on Tuesday, the president said rather lightheartedly that he had learnt not to make any predictions again on the energy crisis facing Ghana. He would prefer the “technical people” tell Ghanaians when a panacea will be found for the crisis. “I believe that in the next eh!, let me not predict, in the next short while, we will be able to overcome the problem of load shedding. I have learnt to leave it to the technical people to talk about and they are having a major press briefing tomorrow [Wednesday]," he stopped shy of promising. President Mahama indicated that the press briefing by the technical people will touch on a scheduled routine maintenance that Atuabo Gas Plant is set to undergo, adding that gas will stop flowing for them to re-tune the plants. “…they (technical people) will inform Ghanaians where we are currently in respect of resolving the power crisis permanently…We now as a result of the work we did have sufficient generation, the major problem now will be to provide the fuel and so we need to resolve the issues to do with the West Africa Gas Pipeline,” he said. He noted that his government is doing all it could to permanently stop the load shedding management which have been a problem in this country for years but have always been managed and not solved totally. “We need to forecast on our demand for power generation to prevent future misfortunes as we have today, and that is my target as a president,” he indicated. He however advised Ghanaians especially, ministries to pay their electricity bills to help government solve the energy crises facing the country.

Source: Elizabeth Semiheva/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Fear not; we are not in Ghana for revenge - Guantanamo Bay ex-detainees speak

The two Guantanamo Bay ex-detainees, who presence in Ghana has provoked outrage among a section of public, have indicated that they are not in Ghana for revenge.

In their first radio interview since they arrived in Ghana, the two, ahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, also denied belonging to terrorist groups.

Stressing that they had been illegally and unjustifiably detained by the Americans in Guantanamo Bay for several years, they two said their priority now was to live in Ghana quietly and peacefully and to get their lives back on track.

“We have been wrongly arrested for 14 years without any charge against us. We have suffered but we are not looking for revenge. We want to leave in Ghana quiet and peacefully. And we want to put our lives together,” they told Accra-based Unique FM.

Although many Ghanaians have expressed anger and displeasure at their presence in Ghana out of fear that they could attract extremists to the country, the two still went ahead to express gratitude to their hosts.

They described Ghanaians as nice and hospitable people, adding that they were excited to be in the country.

“We are very happy for the warm reception that Ghana is known for. Ghanaians are very good people. We are very excited to come to Ghana because we know some of the things about Ghana.

“We are not part of any group for example Al-Qaeda or other things, we don’t belong to any part of them. We are healed, we want to leave very normal lives. Allah bless you and the people of Ghana,” they said.

- See more at: http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/56089-fear-not-we-are-not-in-ghana-for-revenge-guantanamo-bay-ex-detainees-speak.html#sthash.RnavvXZb.dpuf

Hanna Tetteh’s Former Campaign Manager Defects To NPP

A defeated National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary aspirant in the Awutu Senya West Constituency of the Central Region has defected to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) citing underdevelopment in the constituency. Captain Owiredu Asuako who challenged Foreign Affairs Minister, Hanna Tetteh in the NDC primaries said the constituency lacks the needed development and he believes the NPP and its parliamentary candidate, George Andah will bring that development. Speaking to Citi News Captain Owiredu Asuako who was campaign manager for Madam Hanna Tetteh in the 2012 election argued that the NDC has lost touch with the people. “I wanted to stand as a parliamentary candidate, not that I’m weaker; the issue is that I’m seeking for development for the people of Awutu Senya. As at now, the group that I wanted to lead did not mind me.” He said when he compared his vision for the constituency to that of NPP’s George Andah’s adding that “it was talking about development” hence his decision to partner him. “I’m just looking for somebody who can partner me to develop my people. The present MP has not been in touch with the people as compared to other MPs who come around every weekday or weekend to talk to the people and listen to them,” the defected NDC member added. Hanna Tetteh during the NDC parliamentary primaries in the area in 2015 won by 97% of the votes as against her main contender Captain Owiredu who had a paltry 2.4% of the votes.

Source: citifmonline.com