NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

UNCLAS ACCRA 002623 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CBW AF BWC GH SUBJECT: NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION REF: A) STATE 178365 B) 05 STATE 025249 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered talking points per Ref A on October 27 to the MFA's Supervising Director for Multilateral, Passport and Legal Affairs, Kwesi Quartey. Quartey noted that Ghana was totally committed to preventing chemical weapons from reaching the wrong hands. Its failure to pass implementing penal legislation was a reflection of bureaucratic inertia, not a lack of political will. He said he would urge the Ministry of Science of Technology to submit appropriate legislation to parliament. ¶2. (SBU) Quartey further noted that the GOG was hosting an all-Africa conference on UNSCR 1540 in two weeks. This, he said, was further evidence of Ghana's commitment to stop chemical weapons from spreading. Quartey could not say whether the GOG had already submitted a national plan to the OPCW that contained realistic target dates for meeting Article VII obligations but said he would check into this and apprise us of his findings. BRIDGEWATER