GHANA: 2001 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002992

DEPT FOR S/CT FOR REAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA: 2001 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 198192

THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO REFTEL PARA TWO:


A. SIGNIFICANT ACTS TO SUPPORT COALITION AGAINST
TERRORISM:

THE GOG CONDEMNED, PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, THE SEPTEMBER
11 ATTACKS AGAINST THE U.S, AND EXPRESSED ITS SYMPATHY,
AGAIN PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE
ATTACKS. GOG SECURITY FORCES HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE,
FROM INCREASED SECURITY AT MISSION FACILITIES, TO
ENHANCED SHARING OF INFORMATION FROM POLICE,
IMMIGRATION, MILITARY AND OTHER CONTACTS. THE
GOVERNMENT HAS SOUGHT TO ASSIST IN THE SUPPRESSION OF
TERRORIST FINANCING BOTH BY SIGNING THE CONVENTION TO
SUPPRESS TERRORIST FINANCING THIS MONTH, AND BY ITS
WILLINGNESS TO SHARE INFORMATION ON, AND REQUEST
ASSISTANCE WITH, ITS CAPACITY TO MONITOR SUSPICIOUS
FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ARRESTED
SEVERAL SUSPICIOUS THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS TRANSITTING
THE COUNTRY, AND SHARED INFORMATION FROM THOSE ARRESTS
WITH US. IT HAS AGREED UPON THE IMPORTANCE OF ADOPTING
THE FIVE REMAINING ANTI-TERRORISM CONVENTIONS (INCLUDING
THE CONVENTION TO SUPPRESS TERRORIST FINANCING, WHICH
MUST NOW BE RATIFIED BY PARLIAMENT),AND HAS SET UP AN
INTER-MINSISTERIAL BODY TO DO SO. KEY SECURITY
OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW U.S. AIR
AND NAVAL ASSETS TO TRANSIT GHANA IF NEEDED.


B. CASE STUDIES OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS:

NONE AVAILABLE


C. RESPONSE OF JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO 2001 ACTS OF
INTERNATIONAL/DOMESTIC TERRORISM

THE GHANAIAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM DID NOT HAVE OCCASION TO
RESPOND TO ANY ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC
TERRORISM IN 2001.


D. EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS:

THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT EXTRADITE OR REQUEST THE
EXTRADITION OF ANY SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN 2001.


E. SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO PROSECUTION/EXTRADITION
OF TERRORISTS.

THERE ARE NO IMPEDIMENTS TO EXTRADITION OR PROSECUTION
OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. THE U.S. AND GHANA HAVE AN
EXTRADITION TREATY.


F. RESPONSES TO TERRORIST INCIDENTS OTHER THAN
PROSECUTION:

SEE ANSWER TO ITEM A.


G. MAJOR COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS:

SEE ANSWER TO ITEM A.


H. SIGNIFICANT HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM:

NONE


I. HOST GOVERNMENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A
TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE:

NONE.


J. CHANGES, NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE, IN ATTITUDE TOWARD
TERRORISM:

THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM HAS BECOME
MORE FOCUSED AND RESULTS-ORIENTED, WITH CLOSE
COOPERATION WITH THE MISSION ON LOCAL SECURITY AND
TRANSIT OF SUSPICIOUS THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS.


K. U.S. COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS WITH THE HOST
GOVERNMENT:

THE U.S. HAS ASKED FOR, AND RECEIVED, VERY CLOSE
COOPERATION FROM GHANAIAN SECURITY FORCES IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS. TO THE EXTENT
POSSIBLE UNDER EXISTING LAWS, GHANA HAS AGREED TO
TIGHTEN ITS OVERSIGHT OF SUSPICIOUS FINANCIAL
TRANSACTIONS. IT HAS ALSO AGREED THAT SUBSTANTIAL
REVISION OF ITS LAWS REGARDING MONEY-LAUNDERING AND
SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTIONS IS NECESSARY AND SHOULD BE
PURSUED, AND HAS ASKED FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN DOING
SO. THE MISSION HAS LOBBIED THE GOG EXTENSIVELY ON THE
NECESSITY OF ADOPTING THE FIVE REMAINING INTERNATIONAL
ANTI-TERRORIST CONVENTIONS, AND THE GOG HAS BEGUN THE
PROCESS OF ADOPTION.


L. COOPERATION DURING PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN
INVESTIGATION/PROSECUTION OF TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST
AMERICAN CITIZENS/INTERESTS:

ASIDE FROM THE COOPERATION DETAILED ABOVE REGARDING THE
EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, THE GOG MADE STRONG COOPERATIVE
STATEMENTS FOLLOWING THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN EAST
AFRICAN IN 1998, AND ASSISTED WITH ENHANCED SECURITY FOR
MISSION FACILITIES.


M. COOPERATION DURING PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN PREVENTION
OF TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST AMERICAN CITIZENS/INTERESTS:

SAME AS PREVIOUS ANSWER.

POWELL