PROPOSALS FOR INL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ACCRA 000432

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W AND INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SNAR GH
SUBJECT: PROPOSALS FOR INL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

REF: STATE 10511

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) Per reftel instructions, Post proposes five projects to be
funded with FY 2008 funds. Post's objective is to build on past
efforts to enhance the capabilities of Ghanaian counter-narcotics
units, including the Narcotics Control Board, and to focus attention
on improving interdiction capacity at Kotoka International Airport,
which has become a significant transit point for narcotics destined
for Europe and the United States. The proposed projects would
reinforce on-going efforts to improve the capabilities of local
enforcement officials and complement interdiction efforts by partner
nations. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Post's points of contact for narcotics issues are POLOFF
Paul Stevenson (after April 4),Tel: (233-21) 741-851; Fax: (233-21)
775-742; and POL Chief Brian Shukan, Tel. (233-21) 741-338; e-mail
shukanbw@state.gov.

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Para 19: Overview
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3. (SBU) The following responses are keyed to questions in reftel
paragraph 19:


A.) TITLE/ESTIMATED COST/PRIORITY
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Criminal Investigations Training by National Association of Black
Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE): two-week train-the-trainer
course for Ghana Police Services (GPS); one-week train-the-trainer
course on conducting corruption and money laundering investigations;
$45,000; priority one out of five.

Airport Interdiction Seminar for the Ghanaian Narcotics Control
Board (NACOB) conducted by the US Drug Enforcement Administration:
$65,000; priority two of five.

Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP Africa) in conjunction with
UNODC: implement a multi-phased plan to improve controls and border
management specifically at airports through enhanced inter-agency
and regional cooperation; $200,000; priority three of five.

Regional Advanced Drug Enforcement Training for the NACOB conducted
by the US Drug Enforcement Administration: develop management and
supervisory skills of mid-level drug enforcement managers by
exploring controlled deliveries, conspiracy investigations, and
operational planning; $62,700; priority four of five.

Financial Crimes Investigations: Two-week Financial Investigative
Techniques (FIT) course including three OTA advisors to cover
investigating financial crimes, asset forfeiture, public corruption,
and money laundering. Project would also provide equipment,
including computers, to units specializing in financial crimes;
$123,000; priority five of five


B. BACKGROUND TO THE REQUEST

Despite on-going and genuine efforts from local authorities, Ghana
has emerged as a significant transit in the African drug trade.
Ghanaians are believed to be working in conjunction with other West
African trafficking groups to smuggle heroin and cocaine to Europe
and South Africa. Although local enforcement agencies are committed
to interdiction and prosecution, corruption in the ranks remains a
problem. A national narcotics scandal in 2006 involving allegations
of official complicity in narcotics trafficking complicated Ghana's
efforts to combat the drug trade but focused public attention on the
growing problem. Subsequent arrests of airport and law enforcement
officials believed to be facilitating drug smuggling have been equal
parts encouraging and disheartening. Drugs are transiting Ghana at
an increasing level, exacerbating drug-related corruption and posing
increasing drug control problems for the Ghanaian authorities.

In recent years, INL funds have helped increase the capacity of the
Ghana Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) to participate in narcotics
seizures. INL funds have been used to support a successful 14-week
basic police training course as well as ongoing 8-week police course
run by ICITAP. The training had the strong backing of the Inspector
General of Police and the course was subsequently replicated.
Future programming will reinforce this good work and will also focus
on air and sea port interdiction, international control deliveries,
and operational planning.

Even with enriched law enforcement capacity, the lure of easy money
is hard to resist, making the airport only as secure as its most
susceptible employee. Programs therefore also seek to complement

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efforts by the British government to independently intercept drug
smugglers.

-- C. PROJECT GOALS
The projects aim to build on past training initiatives, to bolster
local capacity for narcotic interdiction, and to complement
multilateral interdiction efforts.

-- D. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Criminal Investigations Training by National Association of Black
Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) - NOBLE proposes a two week train
the trainer course focusing on criminal investigations, crime scene
management, evidence collection, and informant development. Given
allegations of criminal conduct, students will identify the methods
and techniques used in conducting multiple criminal investigations
from inception to logical conclusion.

NOBLE also proposes a one-week train-the-trainer course designed for
Ghanaian law enforcement professionals engaged in conducting and
managing corruption and money laundering investigations. The course
syllabus includes an overview of the impact of corruption,
investigative strategies, and an analysis of corruptions patterns.

DEA Airport Interdiction Seminar - The DEA will conduct a week-long
seminar designed to further develop the investigative skills of
officers who work interdiction units in Ghana. The course will
build on a 2004 course in Nigeria which was attended and lauded by
several Ghanaians. The seminar will reinforce proven methods and
introduce latest methods. No other USG agency has provided this
type of training in the past.

Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP Africa) - UNODC plans to
implement a multi-phased, 48-month regional program which will
improve controls and border management, specifically at airports,
through enhanced inter-agency and regional cooperation with more
effective exchange and analysis if operational information. It
involves three global organizations - Interpol, the WCO and UNODC -
and will complement proactive interdiction methods by the Government
of Britain through the Project Westbridge program.

DEA Regional Advanced Drug Enforcement Seminar - This project will
consist of a two-week seminar with emphasis on international control
deliveries, conspiracy investigations, and operational planning.
The project will be targeted at approximately 40 Ghanaian mid-level
narcotics enforcement supervisors. The course was selected due to
the need to increase the management and supervisory skills of
mid-level supervisors in law enforcement agencies in Ghana. No
other USG agency has provided this type of training in the past.

Treasury Department Financial Investigations Techniques (FIT)
courses - This project would help Ghana implement its money
laundering law and combat corruption by providing training and
equipment to law enforcement units and banking compliance officers
focused on combating financial crimes (including
internet/cyber-crime),money laundering and corruption. It is
particularly timely given that a Money Laundering Bill was passed by
parliament in November 2007 and came into effect in January 2008.
The law details accountable institutions, the role of supervisory
authorities, preventive measures against money laundering, customer
identification procedures, record keeping procedures, rules for
Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR),and reporting and disclosure
requirements. In addition, the bill calls for establishment of a
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU),overseen by the Minister of
Finance. The FIU has not yet been put in place, in part due to the
need for capacity building and training. The FIT program will help
encourage establishment of the FIU in a timely manner and train the
FIU members.


-- E. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
A quantifiable number of Ghanaian law enforcement officers will
complete the train-the-trainer course and will exponentially spread
the message via direct training of peers and through amending
current police academy course curricula. NOBLE will track arrests
resulting from criminal investigations and cases submitted for
prosecution.

The DEA projects will be successful if there is an increase in drug
seizures by the NACOB and if local efforts expand beyond the airport
to other ports-of-entry.

AIRCOP will be demonstrably evaluated through increased drug
interdictions. The project will also result in enhanced and
long-term multi-lateral effectiveness, cooperation, and
communication.

FIT's program indicators will be an increase in investigations and
prosecutions of financial crimes and corruption, and the formal
establishment of an FIU.

-- F. SUSTAINABILTY

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Course graduates will foment change among the ranks by direct peer
training and via implementation and perpetuation of best practices.
The project's legacy will also reside in amended course curricula.

The DEA projects would solidify and underscore the excellent
relationship that agency has with NACOB and will ensure that
technological and intelligence gains are disbursed to local
partners.

AIRCOP is a long-sighted, multi-year project that looks to build a
solid foundation from tentative footholds.

The FIT program will lead to a cadre of highly-trained,
highly-placed government officials imbued with the skills to put
teeth into a the new money-laundering law. They will have the
necessary expertise and expertise to complete this goal.

-- G. TIMELINE
NOBLE, DEA and FIT trainings will take place in 2008, and AIRCOP
will launch by the end of FY 2008.

-- H. EVALUATION
NOBLE will provide a final report quantifying course attendance,
measuring prosecutions and arrests, and estimating the program's
impact.

DEA training success will be monitored via regional staff and Post
reporting.

UNODC holds bi-annual technical meetings with heads of airports to
identify and overcome problem areas while also identifying and
promoting good practices. Detailed mid-term evaluations will be
conducted and submitted 24 months after commencement of the project.


FIT will be evaluated through the performance of units charged with
enforcing the money-laundering statute, and through the functioning
of an FIU.

-- I. Ghana is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention.

BROWN