Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ACCRA2012
2006-08-30 07:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

GHANA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL REQUESTS HELP ON

Tags:  GH PGOV SNAR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHAR #2012 2420733
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O 300733Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2258
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0159
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 0798
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE 0071
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 002012 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR COURVILLE
ROME FOR DEA
THE HAGUE FOR DEA
LAGOS FOR DEA SGAYE AND LEGAT MJOHNSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016
TAGS: GH PGOV SNAR
SUBJECT: GHANA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL REQUESTS HELP ON
NARCOTICS

REF: ACCRA 1793

Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.5 d and e.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 002012

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR COURVILLE
ROME FOR DEA
THE HAGUE FOR DEA
LAGOS FOR DEA SGAYE AND LEGAT MJOHNSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016
TAGS: GH PGOV SNAR
SUBJECT: GHANA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL REQUESTS HELP ON
NARCOTICS

REF: ACCRA 1793

Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.5 d and e.


1. (U) This is an action message (see para 6.)


2. (C) In an August 29 meeting with DCM, Attorney General
and Minister of Justice Joe Ghartey said he and his
Department are consumed with the narcotics issue, which
"began as a scandal and became a crime". The Georgina Wood
Commission has completed its work and will issue a report by
September 10, he said. He had ordered the arrest of the four
main suspects caught on tape discussing cocaine deals,
including a large shipment from the fishing vessel Benjamin
(reftel). This decision was clearly within the law, he said,
which covers anyone involved in narcotics trafficking, not
just those found in possession. Ghartey thought businessman
Alhaji Moro, who is also recorded on the tape, was not guilty
because he stayed out of the room during the cocaine
discussion and specializes in armed robbery, not drug
trafficking. He ordered a fifth narcotics arrest of a cook
who owns a boat. The GOG is still investigating the
whereabouts of the missing 2,000 kilos of cocaine from the
Benjamin, he said. He opined that the Wood Commission has
succeeded in educating the public about the narcotics
problem. The DCM hoped it would also lead to prosecutions.


3. (C) When asked about judicial corruption, Ghartey said
"narcotics and corruption are Siamese twins". He had
recently arrested a judge caught on tape accepting bribes and
will try the case personally. Two other similar cases are
before the courts, Ghartey said, concluding "we need to put
some judges in jail". He professed to be very committed to
fighting corruption, for which he claimed he has the support
of the President.


4. (C) Ghartey said that the key to quickly resolving the
cases of the four narcotics suspects and the corrupt judge
was authenticating their voices on the respective tapes.
Predictably, the suspects have denied that the voices are
theirs and Ghana reportedly has no experts who can
authenticate these voices for use in court. A dispute about
the authenticity of the tapes could jeopardize prosecuting
these cases, Ghartey said. He asked for USG assistance in
providing a voice expert to authenticate these tapes (which
are in the Twi language). If necessary, the GOG can pay for
such services, although he was concerned that anyone paid by
the state might be seen as biased. He would like an answer
by September 10.


5. (C) Comment: Ghartey's mind is clearly absorbed by the
narcotics issue. He deflected questions about other issues
saying that he could not think about other, non-narcotics
issues at this time. National "confidence in the
institutions of state are at stake" in the narcotics issue,
he said, arguing that already criminals are trying to take
advantage of internal authority problems in the police. A
young, ambitious lawyer, he also no doubt hopes that
prosecuting narcotraffickers will boost his own political
career. End comment.


6. (C) Action: Please provide guidance on possibility of
assistance with voice authentication. It is in the USG
interest to do what we can to facilitate convictions of those
involved in narcotics trafficking in Ghana.

BRIDGEWATER