GHANA: 1996 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS ACCRA 007188 S/CT FOR REAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER SUBJECT: GHANA: 1996 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT REF(S): STATE 223177 THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE FORMATTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 OF REFTEL: ¶A. THERE HAVE BEEN NO HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN 1996. ¶B. THE HOST GOVERNMENT DID NOT EXTRADITE OR REQUEST THE EXTRADITION OF ANY SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN 1996. ¶C. THE US AND GHANA DO NOT HAVE AN EXTRADITION TREATY. HOWEVER, EXTRADITION IS POSSIBLE UNDER GHANAIAN LAW. ¶D. THERE HAVE BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC STATEMENTS OR INVESTIGATIONS IN 1996. ¶E. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN. ¶F. THE GOVERNMENT OF GHANA HAS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH LIBYA, IRAN AND CUBA. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN HAS ESTABLISHED ABOUT A DOZEN ISLAMIC HEALTH CLINICS.IN GMANA. THERE HAS BEEN A WIDESPREAD PERCEPTION OF ARAB AMBASSADORS ASSIGNED TO GHANA THAT THESE CLINICS ARE ACTUALLY TRAINING FACILITIES FOR TERRORISM OR THE EXPORT OF ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM. THESE PERCEPTIONS HAVE BEEN VOICED DIRECTLY TO AMBASSADOR BRYNN. TO DATE WE HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE TO CONFIRM THESE OPINIONS. HOWEVER, THESE SUSPICIONS MERIT FURTHER INVESTIGATION. ¶G. IN SEPTEMBER 1996, DURING THE RECENT CRISIS IN IRAQ, PRESIDENT RAWLINGS MADE A VERY PUBLIC TRIP TO LIBYA AND MET WITH COL. AL-QADHDHAFI. ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT MADE NO SPECIFIC STATEMENTS ON IRAQ OR TERRORISM, HIS TIMING WAS SEEN AS INAPPROPRIATE. ¶H. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 1995 IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM. ¶I. THERE HAVE BEEN NO U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS OR INITIATIVES WITH RESPECT TO GHANA. ¶J. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS NOT SOUGHT COOPERATION FROM GHANA DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS IN THE INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION OF ANY ACT OF TERRORISM. BRYNN