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
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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