General News of Monday, 14 March 2016

Source: atinkaonline.com

'Security expert' apologises to Akufo-Addo over Gitmo 2

Ibrahim Irbard Ibrahim Irbard

Security expert and Islamic Scholar, Ibrahim Irbard, has apologised to New Patriotic Party(NPP) flagbarer, Nana Akufo Addo over the GITMO 2 saga.

The security expert had claimed in a radio interview that, the NPP leader knew about the transfer of the two Guantanamo Bay detainees six months ahead.

The claim generated so much controversy as some leading members of the party called on the Irbard to substantiate his allegations or apologise to Nana Akufo Addo.

However, in a statement released on Sunday, the security expert apologized to Akufo Addo over the goof, explaining that the issue had to do with an “error in the intelligence info about being informed of the ex-detainees 6 months before their arrival.”

Below is the full statement:

IVORY COAST ATTACK AND AN APOLOGY TO NANA ADDO AND THE NPP

The militant attack in Ivory Coast shows how vulnerable Ghana is to possible attacks by militants from the Sahel region and North Africa. This has nothing to do with playing host to only two ex-Gitmo detainees. I sincerely apologize to Nana Addo and the NPP for an error in the intelligence info about being informed of the ex-detainees 6 months before their arrival. That intelligence gap is sincerely regrettable and won't happen again. In the same vein, I admire His Excelleny John Dramani Mahama and appreciate the efforts our dear President and the ruling NDC are making to keep the nation safe from attacks. Ghanaians should not panic. We have a diligent police force and a robust army on standby to keep the nation safe. Ghana will continue to remain safe if:

1. We don't pursue a belligerent foreign policy and stick to peacekeeping missions abroad

2. End youth despondency by creating jobs to profitably engage our teeming exuberant youth whose frustration could be used as a recruitment bonanza

3. Tighten border controls and beef up security at malls, hotels, resorts, bus terminals, universities etc

4. Engage the world in peace building and ending the conflicts in South Sudan, Libya, the Central African Republic etc- Peace Ambassador Irbard Ibrahim