VIOLENT ROBBERY OF AMCIT WITH STUDENT GROUP IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001241

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CASC OEXC GH
SUBJECT: VIOLENT ROBBERY OF AMCIT WITH STUDENT GROUP IN
GHANA

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SUMMARY
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1. Begin summary. A group of 6 students and their staff
leader from the University of Maryland were "welcomed" on
their first night in Ghana by the appearance of a thief armed
with a machete at the door of the trip chaperone's room at
university accommodations. The man stole several items from
the trip leader's room and slightly injured her before
fleeing. The student group did not utilize regular foreign
student accommodations, which have better security. The
Embassy and its counterparts at the University of Ghana-Legon
will continue its coordination to increase security measures
for visiting American scholars and students. End summary.

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VIOLENT ROBBERY: A COLD WELCOME TO GHANA FOR VISITING STUDENTS
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2. At 23:57 on Friday, June 4, the Embassy duty officer was
contacted via Post One by AmCit Kelly Mack, who informed the
officer that she was the victim of a robbery at the
University of Ghana-Legon. Ms. Mack stated that she and a
group of students (whom she was supervising on a trip to
Ghana) had just arrived in country June 4. She was settling
into her room at the university "guest house" (hotel-style
lodging on the university's campus) when someone claiming to
be with "guest services" knocked at her door. When she opened
the door, a man wielding a machete forced his way into her
room, stealing her bag with her passport, cash, traveler's
checks, and credit cards inside. In recounting the details to
the duty officer, Ms. Mack stated that she was "cut in the
scuffle" but not seriously injured and did not require
medical attention.


3. The duty officer, RSO, and local law enforcement officials
worked with the student group from June 4-8 to assist with
filing a police report, replacing the stolen passport, and
assessing the circumstances surrounding the robbery.


4. Ms. Mack had originally intended to stay in Ghana for two
weeks, and the students were planning to stay for two months
to work with the Nogochi Minority International Research
Training Program. As of the night of June 5, the group's
plans were changing; Ms. Mack stated that she intended to
leave Ghana as soon as her passport was replaced, and
according to Ms. Mack, four of the students intended to leave
with her while two students wanted to stay. Ms. Mack noted
that the students' plans were "changing by the hour". By COB
on June 7, the Embassy was informed that the University of
Maryland was ordering the entire group to return to the
United States on June 8 once Ms. Mack's passport was replaced.

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SECURITY FOR UNIVERSITY VISITORS: WHAT'S BEING DONE
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5. On June 7, after being assisted by Post's ACS section to
replace her passport, Ms. Mack met with the RSO to discuss
the nature of the incident. Ms. Mack confirmed that the
University of Maryland had not notified the Embassy of this
group's trip to Ghana. As such, RSO and PAS had no
opportunity to advise the arriving students on security
matters. The RSO told Ms. Mack that, in the future, the
University of Maryland should inform the PAS of individual
students or groups who are coming to study in Ghana so that
Post can assist them in finding the most secure accommodation
options possible. Ms. Mack replied that she would take this
message back to her university. Additionally, PAS and RSO are
updating the Embassy website to explicitly advise student
groups intending to come to Ghana to register with the
Embassy and receive a security briefing on arrival.


6. There have been past incidents involving the security of
American students studying and Fulbrighters at the University
of Ghana-Legon. In the past year, RSO and PAS have worked
closely with university officials to heighten the security
standards for visiting American students, observing that they
are naturally at greater risk for thefts and other petty
crimes in this context. Since these discussions took place in
October 2003, one dormitory has been designated as a
higher-security facility for international students and no
incidents had occurred until June 4. This was not the place
at which the group visiting from the University of Maryland
stayed on June 4. The "guest house" at which the group
visiting from the University of Maryland stayed on June 4 is
just a regular facility for Ghanaian students.


7. Another weakness lies within the university's
communication network. According to university officials
charged with the responsibility for international students,
the institute hosting the University of Maryland group -
coordinated by Ghanaian Professor Mike Wilson - did not
notify these officials about the group's plans. If Professor
Wilson had notified the appropriate officials, he would have
been advised about the more secure international student
dorm. Embassy personnel have urged improved communication
among university staff regarding the arrival of international
visitors and groups.


8. Ambassador Yates tried June 9-11 to meet with the
Vice-Chancellor of the university to discuss the issue of
student security and to engage the university at the highest
possible level to underscore the importance of this issue,
but he was out of town. Instead, the RSO consulted with the
Dean of International Students on June 11 to assess security
at campus accommodations. The Ambassador will continue to
pursue a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor.

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COMMENT
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9. The group of students and their staff leader were quite
traumatized by the incident. Better planning by University of
Maryland staff prior to arrival, and better procedures for
ensuring all foreign students are channeled to the foreign
student dorm, might have averted the incident. Post will
continue to encourage the University of Ghana to provide a
secure environment for American students and will redouble
efforts to ensure that students receive a realistic
assessment of security concerns before arriving in Ghana. End
comment.
Yates