Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ACCRA2206
2004-11-08 17:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

ALLEGED COUP PLOT THWARTED IN GHANA: SEVEN ARRESTED

Tags:  PGOV PREL GH 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002206 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GH
SUBJECT: ALLEGED COUP PLOT THWARTED IN GHANA: SEVEN ARRESTED


-------
SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002206

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GH
SUBJECT: ALLEGED COUP PLOT THWARTED IN GHANA: SEVEN ARRESTED


--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) On November 6, the Ghanaian Criminal Investigative
Division (CID) arrested seven men for allegedly engaging in
'coup plotting'. Local press reports are conflicting on
whether there were current and/or active members of the
military among the seven arrested. The head of the CID, Mr.
David Asante-Apeatu, issued a press release saying that the
men were "planning to commit acts of sabotage and subvert the
state." He denied allegations that there were any active
military members or former officers arrested. One news source
reported that four of the seven have been released on bail,
but this has yet to be confirmed by local authorities. End
summary.

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ALLEGED COUP PLOT THWARTED: POSSIBLE MILITARY INVOLVEMENT
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) A group of seven men were arrested on November 6 for
allegedly plotting a coup to overthrow the current government
and disrupt national elections planned for December 7.
According to a press release from Mr. Asante-Apeatu, head of
the CID, the alleged coup plotters were found with military
equipment, a firearm, and ammunition.


3. (U) Press reports about the military connections of those
arrested are conflicting. The Ghanaian Times, a state-owned
newspaper considered to be one of the more reliable dailies
here, reported that there were both "serving and retired
military personnel" among the group arrested. The Ghana
Review International also quoted a high-level source from the
president's office as saying that the group included "serving
and retired military personnel." However, other press reports
either do not address this allegation or dispute it. Mr.
Asante-Apeatu is quoted in a Reuter's story as saying, "I
want to emphasize that what we've uncovered had nothing to do
with the armed forces. The group we arrested on Saturday
consists of civilians or ex-soldiers."


4. (SBU) No names have been released to the public. However,
three of the four suspects were reportedly detained
previously on similar allegations and eventually released
(Note: These three are among the four who are alleged to be
former military members). A Pol contact reported that the
police found no weaponry when they searched the suspects'
residences.


5. (U) One radio station, Joy News, reported that four of the
seven have been granted bail, though this has not yet been
confirmed by local authorities or other press outlets. Under
Ghanaian law, the suspects can be held for 48 hours to allow
for initial investigations. If they are not brought before a
court within 48 hours of arrest, then they must be freed.

-------------- --
DESPITE SECURITY THREATS, THE SITUATION IS CALM
-------------- --


6. (U) Despite this latest incident, the security situation
in Ghana remains calm. There is no evidence of heightened
military or police presence as a result of the weekend's
arrests. In his press release, Mr. Asante-Apeatu reassured
the public that the authorities had been effectively
monitoring the threat and had reacted appropriately. In a
separate address in Kumasi, the Minister of Defense, Dr.
Kwame Addo-Kufuor, further upheld the Ghana Armed Forces as
being ready to protect and defend the Ghanaian constitution.


7. (U) One local press report quoted an unnamed member of the
major opposition party, the National Democratic Congress
(NDC),as denouncing the alleged coup plot as a 'fabricated'
scare tactic by the ruling National Patriotic Party to gain
political leverage in the final weeks before the election.
(Note: This opinion appears to be an isolated one, and its
credibility is further reduced by the fact that no NDC
representatives have gone on the record saying this).

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


8. (SBU) In the lead-up to this year's presidential and
parliamentary elections, isolated rumors and incidents of
violence have cropped up. Regional violence related to
chieftancy disputes in the north continues to be a concern
for many. Scattered rumors of mercenaries and coup plotters
have previously been denied by both major political parties,
though may/may be partially verifiable by the November 6
arrests. In spite of these isolated incidents, however, a
full-scale political coup in Ghana seems unlikely and the
prospects for free and fair elections in December remain
optimistic at this point in time. End comment.
YATES