DCM MEETS GHANA'S NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, DISCUSSES

UNCLAS ACCRA 000302

SIPDIS

LAGOS FOR DEA - CLAYTON WHEELER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC CJAN GH KTIA KWMN PHUM
SUBJECT: DCM MEETS GHANA'S NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, DISCUSSES
TRAFFICKING AND EXTRADITION



1. Summary: On February 9, DCM Jerry Lanier and PolChief
paid a courtesy call on Ghana's new Attorney General and
Minister of Justice Ayikoi Otoo. DCM highlighted our
interest in passage of an anti-trafficking law and in
negotiating a new extradition treaty, as well as obtaining
the extradition of Grace Coleman. End summary.

Trafficking in Persons
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2. DCM explained our trafficking in persons (TIP) report and
noted that Ghana was the only sub-Saharan African state on
Tier 1. It is unlikely Ghana will remain on Tier 1 unless it
passes anti-trafficking legislation, he said. He hoped Otoo
would support passage of a law. Otoo responded that he had
seen the draft anti-trafficking bill and had received some
briefing material on the law. Since this was his first week
as minister and there had not yet been a meeting of Cabinet,
he could not make commitments at this point about passage of
the bill.

Extradition Issues
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3. DCM noted that we have been seeking a new extradition
treaty with Ghana for several years because many crimes are
not covered in the current 1931 treaty. He noted our good
cooperation on extradition issues with Ghana, including the
recent extradition of Amcit Carmella Warren, and he hoped the
GOG would help us with our outstanding extradition request
for Member of Parliament Grace Coleman, who was convicted in
the U.S. of forced labor and several other charges. Otoo
took note of our issues but said before turning to
substantive matters he was spending his first week at the
ministry dealing with internal staffing concerns.

Comment
--------------


4. The meeting laid down several markers on which we will
follow up over the coming weeks. Otoo was receptive and
noted his hope to "strengthen the bonds of friendship" with
the United States.

Bio
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5. Ayikoi Otoo (54) is a prominent lawyer, with law degrees
from the University of Ghana, Legon and the Ghana School of
Law. Before becoming minister, he was the National Secretary
of the Ghana Bar Association and ran a private law practice.
He is a director of Geminie Life Insurance Company and
several other private firms. He has no previous government
experience. An ethnic Ga from Accra, he is married with four
children.
YATES