Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ACCRA2693
2002-10-25 10:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:
GHANA: 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT
how-toR 251018Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2451
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002693
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA: 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT
REF: STATE 201772
THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO REFTEL PARAGRAPH TWO:
A. SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS TO SUPPORT COALITION AGAINST
TERRORISM:
THE GOG CONDEMNED, PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, THE SEPTEMBER 11,
2001 ATTACKS AGAINST THE U.S., AND EXPRESSED ITS SYMPATHY,
AGAIN PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ATTACKS.
IN THE YEAR SINCE THE ATTACKS THE GOG HAS ON SEVERAL
OCCASIONS RENEWED ITS CONDEMNATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS OF
SYMPATHY. FOR EXAMPLE, HIGH LEVEL DELEGATIONS, LED BY MUSLIM
VICE PRESIDENT ALIU MOHAMMED, ATTENDED THE MISSION'S
THREE-MONTH AND ONE-YEAR COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES, AND MADE
VERY SUPPORTIVE REMARKS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO BEEN VERY
SUPPORTIVE IN CONCRETE TERMS AS WELL, FROM INCREASED SECURITY
AT MISSION COMPOUNDS, TO HEIGHTENED SHARING OF INFORMATION
FROM POLICE, IMMIGRATION, MILITARY AND OTHER CONTACTS. THE
GOVERNMENT WELCOMED ASSISTANCE IN THE SUPPRESSION OF
TERRORIST FINANCING, AND HELD USEFUL MEETINGS WITH US
TREASURY OFFICIALS ON MONITORING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. THE
GOG ADOPTED FIVE ANTI-TERRORIST CONVENTIONS TO WHICH IT WAS
NOT YET A MEMBER IN JULY, INCLUDING THE CONVENTION TO
SUPPRESS TERRORIST FINANCING, AND NOW SUBSCRIBES TO ALL 12
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON TERRORISM. AT THE SAME TIME, IT
ALSO ADOPTED THE OAU CONVENTION AGAINST TERRORISM. IT IS IN
THE PROCESS OF DRAFTING LOCAL LEGISLATION TO PUT ITS CRIMINAL
CODE AND FINANCIAL MONITORING REGIMES IN HARMONY WITH THESE
VARIOUS CONVENTIONS. KEY SECURITY OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO
INDICATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW U.S. AIR AND NAVAL ASSETS
TO TRANSIT GHANA, OR MAKE USE OF LOCAL FACILITIES, IF NEEDED
(AS DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR GREAT COOPERATION IN THE USE OF
KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN ACCRA FOR THE RECENT
EVACUATION OF U.S. CITIZENS FROM COTE D'IVOIRE).
B. RESPONSE OF JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO ACTS OF
INTERNATIONAL/DOMESTIC TERROR:
THE GHANAIAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM DID NOT HAVE OCCASION TO RESPOND
TO ANY ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC TERROR IN 2002.
C. EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS:
THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY REQUESTS TO EXTRADITE, NOR
REQUEST THE EXTRADITION OF, ANY SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN 2002.
D. SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO EXTRADITION:
THERE ARE NO IMPEDIMENTS TO EXTRADITION OR PROSECUTION OF
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. THE U.S. AND GHANA HAVE AN EXTRADITION
TREATY.
E. HOST RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION:
SEE ANSWER TO ITEM A.
F. MAJOR COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS BY HOST GOVERNMENT:
SEE RESPONSE TO ITEM A.
G. HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM:
NONE.
H. HOST GOVERNMENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A
TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE:
NONE.
I. CHANGES, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, IN HOST GOVERNMENT'S
ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM SINCE PREVIOUS YEAR:
THE GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM HAS, POST 9/11,
CONTINUED TO BE FOCUSED AND RESULTS-ORIENTED, WITH CLOSE
COOPERATION WITH THE MISSION ON LOCAL SECURITY AND TRANSIT OF
SUSPICIOUS THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS.
J. U.S. COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT.
THE U.S. HAS ASKED FOR, AND HAS RECEIVED, CONTINUED CLOSE
COOPERATION FROM GHANAIAN SECURITY FORCES POST SEPTEMBER 11,
2001. GHANA HAS AGREED ON THE NECESSITY TO CONTINUE TO
STRENGTHEN ITS OVERSIGHT OF SUSPICIOUS FINANCIAL
TRANSACTIONS. A TREASURY DELEGATION CONDUCTED USEFUL
MEETINGS WITH CENTRAL BANK AND MINISTRY OF FINANCE OFFICIALS
ON THE TIGHTENING OF LOCAL FINANCIAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS,
AND THE GOVERNMENT IS DRAFTING LEGISLATION TO EFFECT THIS.
THE MISSION SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED THE GOVERNMENT ON ADOPTION
OF THE FIVE REMAINING ANTI-TERRORIST CONVENTIONS TO WHICH IT
HAD NOT YET SUBSCRIBED, AND HAS ALSO ENCOURAGED THE
GOVERNMENT TO REVISE THE LOCAL CRIMINAL CODE, WHICH IT IS NOW
UNDERTAKING.
K. COOPERATION DURING THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN
INVESTIGATION/PROSECUTION OF TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST AMERICAN
CITIZENS/INTERESTS:
ASIDE FROM THE COOPERATION DETAILED ABOVE REGARDING SEPTEMBER
11, 2001 AND THE ENSUING MONTHS, THE GOVERNMENT MADE STRONGLY
SUPPORTIVE STATEMENTS FOLLOWING THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN EAST
AFRICA IN 1998, AND ASSISTED WITH ENHANCED SECURITY FOR
MISSION FACILITIES.
L. COOPERATION DURING PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN PREVENTION OF
TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST AMERICAN CITIZENS/INTERESTS:
SAME AS PREVIOUS ANSWER.
RASPOLIC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA: 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT
REF: STATE 201772
THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO REFTEL PARAGRAPH TWO:
A. SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS TO SUPPORT COALITION AGAINST
TERRORISM:
THE GOG CONDEMNED, PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, THE SEPTEMBER 11,
2001 ATTACKS AGAINST THE U.S., AND EXPRESSED ITS SYMPATHY,
AGAIN PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ATTACKS.
IN THE YEAR SINCE THE ATTACKS THE GOG HAS ON SEVERAL
OCCASIONS RENEWED ITS CONDEMNATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS OF
SYMPATHY. FOR EXAMPLE, HIGH LEVEL DELEGATIONS, LED BY MUSLIM
VICE PRESIDENT ALIU MOHAMMED, ATTENDED THE MISSION'S
THREE-MONTH AND ONE-YEAR COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES, AND MADE
VERY SUPPORTIVE REMARKS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO BEEN VERY
SUPPORTIVE IN CONCRETE TERMS AS WELL, FROM INCREASED SECURITY
AT MISSION COMPOUNDS, TO HEIGHTENED SHARING OF INFORMATION
FROM POLICE, IMMIGRATION, MILITARY AND OTHER CONTACTS. THE
GOVERNMENT WELCOMED ASSISTANCE IN THE SUPPRESSION OF
TERRORIST FINANCING, AND HELD USEFUL MEETINGS WITH US
TREASURY OFFICIALS ON MONITORING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. THE
GOG ADOPTED FIVE ANTI-TERRORIST CONVENTIONS TO WHICH IT WAS
NOT YET A MEMBER IN JULY, INCLUDING THE CONVENTION TO
SUPPRESS TERRORIST FINANCING, AND NOW SUBSCRIBES TO ALL 12
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON TERRORISM. AT THE SAME TIME, IT
ALSO ADOPTED THE OAU CONVENTION AGAINST TERRORISM. IT IS IN
THE PROCESS OF DRAFTING LOCAL LEGISLATION TO PUT ITS CRIMINAL
CODE AND FINANCIAL MONITORING REGIMES IN HARMONY WITH THESE
VARIOUS CONVENTIONS. KEY SECURITY OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO
INDICATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW U.S. AIR AND NAVAL ASSETS
TO TRANSIT GHANA, OR MAKE USE OF LOCAL FACILITIES, IF NEEDED
(AS DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR GREAT COOPERATION IN THE USE OF
KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN ACCRA FOR THE RECENT
EVACUATION OF U.S. CITIZENS FROM COTE D'IVOIRE).
B. RESPONSE OF JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO ACTS OF
INTERNATIONAL/DOMESTIC TERROR:
THE GHANAIAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM DID NOT HAVE OCCASION TO RESPOND
TO ANY ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC TERROR IN 2002.
C. EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS:
THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY REQUESTS TO EXTRADITE, NOR
REQUEST THE EXTRADITION OF, ANY SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN 2002.
D. SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO EXTRADITION:
THERE ARE NO IMPEDIMENTS TO EXTRADITION OR PROSECUTION OF
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. THE U.S. AND GHANA HAVE AN EXTRADITION
TREATY.
E. HOST RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION:
SEE ANSWER TO ITEM A.
F. MAJOR COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS BY HOST GOVERNMENT:
SEE RESPONSE TO ITEM A.
G. HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM:
NONE.
H. HOST GOVERNMENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A
TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE:
NONE.
I. CHANGES, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, IN HOST GOVERNMENT'S
ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM SINCE PREVIOUS YEAR:
THE GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM HAS, POST 9/11,
CONTINUED TO BE FOCUSED AND RESULTS-ORIENTED, WITH CLOSE
COOPERATION WITH THE MISSION ON LOCAL SECURITY AND TRANSIT OF
SUSPICIOUS THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS.
J. U.S. COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT.
THE U.S. HAS ASKED FOR, AND HAS RECEIVED, CONTINUED CLOSE
COOPERATION FROM GHANAIAN SECURITY FORCES POST SEPTEMBER 11,
2001. GHANA HAS AGREED ON THE NECESSITY TO CONTINUE TO
STRENGTHEN ITS OVERSIGHT OF SUSPICIOUS FINANCIAL
TRANSACTIONS. A TREASURY DELEGATION CONDUCTED USEFUL
MEETINGS WITH CENTRAL BANK AND MINISTRY OF FINANCE OFFICIALS
ON THE TIGHTENING OF LOCAL FINANCIAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS,
AND THE GOVERNMENT IS DRAFTING LEGISLATION TO EFFECT THIS.
THE MISSION SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED THE GOVERNMENT ON ADOPTION
OF THE FIVE REMAINING ANTI-TERRORIST CONVENTIONS TO WHICH IT
HAD NOT YET SUBSCRIBED, AND HAS ALSO ENCOURAGED THE
GOVERNMENT TO REVISE THE LOCAL CRIMINAL CODE, WHICH IT IS NOW
UNDERTAKING.
K. COOPERATION DURING THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN
INVESTIGATION/PROSECUTION OF TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST AMERICAN
CITIZENS/INTERESTS:
ASIDE FROM THE COOPERATION DETAILED ABOVE REGARDING SEPTEMBER
11, 2001 AND THE ENSUING MONTHS, THE GOVERNMENT MADE STRONGLY
SUPPORTIVE STATEMENTS FOLLOWING THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN EAST
AFRICA IN 1998, AND ASSISTED WITH ENHANCED SECURITY FOR
MISSION FACILITIES.
L. COOPERATION DURING PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN PREVENTION OF
TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST AMERICAN CITIZENS/INTERESTS:
SAME AS PREVIOUS ANSWER.
RASPOLIC