WE ARE NOT AGAINST AL-QAEDA: EX-GITMO PRISONER CONFESS!!

The nationwide apprehension which greeted Ghana's decision to have the UN Ebola emergency response headquarters in Accra was a tip of the toast.

Ghanaians have not exhibited much of this recent fear or fragility ever. Perhaps.

The "fierce resistance" which greeted both the news of the government's decision to take in and the arrival of the former Guantanamo Bay prisoners with alleged links to terrorist group Al-Qaeda in the country was quaking and was equally admitted by President Mahama in his closing remarks on Tuesday [yesterday] January 12, 2016 at a Press Conference in Accra.

The transfer of the two Yemini ex-Guantanamo Bay prisoners, namely, Mahmoud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, from the United States (US) into Ghana have not only spiked fears among Ghanaians but has also triggered concerns from non-state actors including the Christian Council of Ghana and the Catholic Bishop Conference.

Both the U.S. and the Ghana government through their communication machineries  have painstakingly attempted to whittle down these fears with little result.

[...Let's not allow fear to "cloud our compassion to the very real need" of these terrorists], President Mahama attempted to stir the emotions of Ghanaians to whip up support and acceptance for the two ex-Gitmo prisoners at Tuesdays' Press Conference to answer questions from editors and journalists.

The countrywide fears and agitations have not fizzled despite these psychological and emotional strategic wordings.

At least not yet.

The past few days have also seen the Ghana government repeat the chorus of the U.S. Government: that it has clarified and addressed all security lapses before transferring the two Yemini ex-Guantanomo Bay prisoners, nearly six years after their transfer approval.

State media, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation's (GBC) interview on Monday with one of the ex-Gitmo prisoners, Mahmoud Bin Atef may have lightened the agitations but has also revealed the guise smiles which accompanied his presentation or answers.

"In the name of Allah, we want to thank the president and the people of Ghana for [their] decision...they made for accepting us.
We have been wrongly arrested for 14-years without having any charge against us. We have suffered but are not looking for revenge because we are not bitter, Mahmoud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef said in an interview on Monday at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

Many are still suspicious and may agree with this line "...watch! Glittering faces in mask..."

A line from "Behind the Wall", a poem I wrote years ago which cautions people to be mindful of one's 'true' intent behind their smile.
Mahmoud Bid Atef and Muhammad Al-Dhuby may have been coached to say what the media and Ghanaians ought to hear.

But the two ex-Guantanamo Bay prisoners may have unknowingly exposed their true intent by 'just' a slip.

Often, it takes a word to tell a lie from many 'truths'. 'So they say'.

"...I just want the...people of Ghana [to know] we are not part of any group or AGAINST example AL-QAEDA..."

The Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program (ATA) managed by the the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) among other initiatives were instituted to work with oversea countries including Ghana, to counter terrorism.

Indeed President Mahama at the Press Conference on Tuesday categorically dated that Ghana is an "ally of the United State."

U.S. President Barack Obama at the Leaders' Summit on Countering ISIS and Extremism held on September 29, 2015.
"I believe what we have here today is the emergence of a global movement that is united by the mission of degrading and ultimately destroying ISIS."

Mahmoud Umar Muhammad Bun Atef on January 11, 2016 "...we are not part of any group or against example Al-Qaeda..."

If they not against Al-Qaeda, are they against initiatives targeted at destroying Al-Qaeda, ISIS and other extremist groups by the U.S and its allies?

This is nothing short of a confession which may be fleshed in the coming months.
Until then, we can only pray and pour out our dislikes.
No! We should act on our dislikes.

Written by: Nathaniel Crabbe (Twitter +Crabbita Media Consult )
Publisher: Hakeem Afful (Twitter +stashafful )