Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ACCRA2208
2003-11-13 16:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

GHANA: 2003 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

Tags:  PTER PREL GH 
pdf how-to read a cable
P 131637Z NOV 03
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4849
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ACCRA 002208


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA: 2003 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 301352

THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO REFTEL PARAGRAPH 2:


A. SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS TO SUPPORT COALITION AGAINST
TERRORISM:

THE GOG PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY CONDEMNED THE SEPTEMBER 11,
2001 ATTACKS AGAINST THE U.S., AND HAS REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED
ITS SYMPATHY FOR VICTIMS OF THE ATTACKS SINCE THEN.
HIGH-LEVEL DELEGATIONS ATTENDED THE MISSION'S THREE-MONTH,
ONE-YEAR, AND TWO-YEAR COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES, THE FIRST
TWO LED BY MUSLIM VICE PRESIDENT ALIU MAHAMA, THE LAST BY
INTERIOR MINISTER HACKMAN OWUSU-AGYEMANG, WITH THE MINISTERS
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE ALSO IN ATTENDANCE. GHANAIAN
SECURITY SERVICES CONTINUE THEIR CLOSE SUPPORT OF THE
MISSION, FROM INCREASED INFORMATION-SHARING TO ENHANCED
COMPOUND SECURITY. THE GOVERNMENT LAST SUMMER ADOPTED THE
REMAINING FIVE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-TERRORIST CONVENTIONS TO
WHICH IT HAD NOT YET ACCEDED. FOLLOWING MEETINGS IN THE
SUMMER OF 2002 ON FIGHTING TERRORIST FINANCE, THE GOVERNMENT
HAS BEGUN DRAFTING LOCAL LEGISLATION TO UPDATE ITS CRIMINAL
CODE AND FINANCIAL MONITORING REGIMES. RECENTLY THE
GOVERNMENT BEGAN WORK ON AN EXTENSIVE OVERHAUL OF ITS ENTIRE
BUDGETARY PROCESS, INVOLVING BOTH THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND
THE CENTRAL BANK AS WELL AS LINE MINISTRIES, WHICH WILL
ENHANCE INFORMATION-GATHERING CAPABILITIES ON FINANCIAL
MATTERS. ACCESS TO LOCAL FACILITIES BY U.S. AIR AND NAVAL
ASSETS CONTINUES (WITH BOTH THE EVACUATION OF U.S. CITIZENS
FROM COTE D'IVOIRE IN 2002, AND U.S. MILITARY FORWARD
PLANNING FOR THE ECOWAS INTERVENTION IN LIBERIA THIS SUMMER,
STAGED FROM ACCRA).


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 TERRORISM IN 2003.


C. EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS:

THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY REQUESTS TO EXTRADITE, NOR
REQUEST THE EXTRADITION OF, ANY SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN 2003.


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 ANSWER TO ITEM A.


G. HOST 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 CONTINUES ITS CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE
MISSION ON ANTI-TERROR ISSUES.


YATES