Negotiations are underway to send the two ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees residing in Ghana back to the United States in January.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway said, Ghana is currently in talks with the United States' government for the two detainees to be sent back when the agreement with the country runs out in January 2018.
The two detainees, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, who were in detention for 14 years after being linked with terrorist group Al-Qaeda, were brought to Ghana in 2016, for a 2-year period, under an agreement between the past Mahama administration and the US.
The acceptance of the detainees sparked public outcry with civil society arguing that the move could put Ghana at risk of a terrorist attack by Islamic fundamentalist groups.Â
Some private citizens challenged the agreement in the Supreme Court, which ruled that it should have been subjected to parliamentary approval and directed the government to seek same within six months.
The House last month approved the agreement but questions remain on the fate of the two after the deal expires on January 6, 2018
The Foreign Minister said in five months, Ghana's obligations would be fully discharged and there would be no further obligation with regards to the Gitmo 2.
She assured the country that the Ministry and security agencies would ensure an exit plan is duly implemented as engagements with the US has already begun in that regard.
She added that government would ensure that the interest of Ghanaians is served following the public condemnation of the arrival of the Gitmo 2.
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