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Government’s decision to accept two detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison has been met with sharp riposte and generated heated debates amongst our political and religious leaders.   

In an attempt to nip the religious and political tension in the bud before it gets out of hand, Rt. Rev Dr. Apostle Nana Anyani Boadum has called Ghanaians to tell apart migrants who visit another country for genuine reasons from others who embark on such expedition to prey on indigenes.  

According to the Presiding Bishop of Jesus Generation Ministry, migration has always been part of human life and should be treated separately from activities linked to acts of terrorism.

“We shouldn’t make issues of terrorism a religious matter. From history we get to know the entire human race has migrated before”, he added.

According to the teacher who believes the distinguishing mark of human life is its humaneness, if the USA has decided to relocate two detainees from Guantanamo Bay prison to Ghana after series of consultations and deliberations, it shouldn’t form the basis for religious groupings in the country to sever ties they have taken years to build.

To some extent, our religious front has suffered some form of division over the housing of the ex-detainees in Ghana.

A spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheik Aremeyaw Shaibu is on record to have lambasted the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) and labeled the council “Xenophobic” for their stiff position against the housing of two Guantanamo ex-detainees in Ghana.

But an interview with Peacefmonline.com, Rt. Rev Dr. Apostle Nana Anyani Boadum who is also an executive member of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council noted that in building a cohesive society, we must see “human beings and not religion”.

On the political front, some political party members have accused President Mahama and his administration of being economical with the truth surrounding the relocation of the two Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Ghana.

On the other hand, members of the National Democratic Congress have accused leader of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo Addo of also being falsehearted and not making it know to Ghanaians that he received earlier briefings about the situation before the relocation took place.  

Such unpleasant exchanges make it disheartening to listen to the arguments from politicians and religious leaders who are in better position to educate those who don’t know.

The USA is considered a strong ally of Ghana and Rt. Rev Dr. Apostle Nana Anyani Boadum believes this isn’t the right time for Ghana to turn its back on the most powerful nation on earth as it plans on clamping down the Guantanamo Bay prison. 

 “The Gitmo issues precincts on international diplomacy. Things that go into such an activity are more than what the politics in Ghana has reduced it to”, he stated.

He however advised the government of Ghana to ensure the USA provides enough security gadgets to monitor and ensure the security system is updated to standards that can monitor and contain any type of person perceived to radical.