GRACE COLEMAN EXTRADITION UPDATE

UNCLAS ACCRA 000062 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: GH CFED CJAN PREL SUBJECT: GRACE COLEMAN EXTRADITION UPDATE ¶1. (SBU) On December 28, 2006 PolChief raised with Attorney General and Minister of Justice Joe Ghartey the status of the extradition request of Ghanaian Member of Parliament Grace Coleman on charges related to trafficking in persons. PolChief reminded Ghartey that we have never received a GOG response to 2003 and 2005 diplomatic notes seeking Coleman's extradition. He urged Ghartey to assist in getting a response and in extraditing Coleman. Ghartey responded that Coleman is terminally ill with cancer, implying that this might affect the extradition request. He said he had requested an internal review of the Coleman case and would look into it. ¶2. (U) On January 9, PolChief raised the Coleman issue with Deputy Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei-Adjei, urging the MFA to respond to our dip notes on Coleman. Osei-Adjei said it was regrettable our previous dip notes had not received a response and he would request his legal department to review the case. He thought Members of Parliament enjoyed immunity but was unsure whether this extended to crimes committed outside of Ghana. The GOG "frowns on impunity" he said, and the government does not want a "cover up situation". He promised to inform the Foreign Minister of our concerns and get back to us. Comment -------------- ¶3. (SBU) We have heard from other sources that Coleman is seriously ill, but PolChief has affirmed to Ghartey that an illness would not exempt Coleman from extradition. Our understanding is that Members of Parliament are not immune from criminal prosecution except on their way to and from work while parliament is in session (although the definition of "work" has been debated). Osei-Adjei's statement about immunity reflects a reluctance to pursue Coleman for political reasons (Osei-Adjei and Ghartey are themselves both MPs, while Coleman was previously Deputy Minister of Finance). ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador and DCM have raised the Coleman issue repeatedly with senior GOG officials over the past several years. This was at least the third time PolChief has raised the Coleman extradition directly with Ghartey and Osei-Adjei. Ghartey has not responded to PolChief's August 21, 2006 letter providing him the background needed to respond to our dip notes. We will continue to seek Coleman's extradition but it continues to be very difficult to get traction on this issue. BROWN