US embassy cable - 01ACCRA2992

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002992 
 
DEPT FOR S/CT FOR REAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, GH 
SUBJECT:  GHANA: 2001 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 198192 
 
THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO REFTEL PARA TWO: 
 
A.  SIGNIFICANT ACTS TO SUPPORT COALITION AGAINST 
TERRORISM: 
 
THE GOG CONDEMNED, PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, THE SEPTEMBER 
11 ATTACKS AGAINST THE U.S, AND EXPRESSED ITS SYMPATHY, 
AGAIN PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE 
ATTACKS.  GOG SECURITY FORCES HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE, 
FROM INCREASED SECURITY AT MISSION FACILITIES, TO 
ENHANCED SHARING OF INFORMATION FROM POLICE, 
IMMIGRATION, MILITARY AND OTHER CONTACTS.  THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS SOUGHT TO ASSIST IN THE SUPPRESSION OF 
TERRORIST FINANCING BOTH BY SIGNING THE CONVENTION TO 
SUPPRESS TERRORIST FINANCING THIS MONTH, AND BY ITS 
WILLINGNESS TO SHARE INFORMATION ON, AND REQUEST 
ASSISTANCE WITH, ITS CAPACITY TO MONITOR SUSPICIOUS 
FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ARRESTED 
SEVERAL SUSPICIOUS THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS TRANSITTING 
THE COUNTRY, AND SHARED INFORMATION FROM THOSE ARRESTS 
WITH US.  IT HAS AGREED UPON THE IMPORTANCE OF ADOPTING 
THE FIVE REMAINING ANTI-TERRORISM CONVENTIONS (INCLUDING 
THE CONVENTION TO SUPPRESS TERRORIST FINANCING, WHICH 
MUST NOW BE RATIFIED BY PARLIAMENT), AND HAS SET UP AN 
INTER-MINSISTERIAL BODY TO DO SO.  KEY SECURITY 
OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW U.S. AIR 
AND NAVAL ASSETS TO TRANSIT GHANA IF NEEDED. 
 
B.  CASE STUDIES OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS: 
 
NONE AVAILABLE 
 
C.  RESPONSE OF JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO 2001 ACTS OF 
INTERNATIONAL/DOMESTIC TERRORISM 
 
THE GHANAIAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM DID NOT HAVE OCCASION TO 
RESPOND TO ANY ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC 
TERRORISM IN 2001. 
 
D. EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS: 
 
THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT EXTRADITE OR REQUEST THE 
EXTRADITION OF ANY SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN 2001. 
 
E.  SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO PROSECUTION/EXTRADITION 
OF TERRORISTS. 
 
THERE ARE NO IMPEDIMENTS TO EXTRADITION OR PROSECUTION 
OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS.  THE U.S. AND GHANA HAVE AN 
EXTRADITION TREATY. 
 
F.  RESPONSES TO TERRORIST INCIDENTS OTHER THAN 
PROSECUTION: 
 
SEE ANSWER TO ITEM A. 
 
G.  MAJOR COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS: 
 
SEE ANSWER TO ITEM A. 
 
H.  SIGNIFICANT HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM: 
 
NONE 
 
I.  HOST GOVERNMENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A 
TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE: 
 
NONE. 
 
J.  CHANGES, NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE, IN ATTITUDE TOWARD 
TERRORISM: 
 
THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM HAS BECOME 
MORE FOCUSED AND RESULTS-ORIENTED, WITH CLOSE 
COOPERATION WITH THE MISSION ON LOCAL SECURITY AND 
TRANSIT OF SUSPICIOUS THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS. 
 
K.  U.S. COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS WITH THE HOST 
GOVERNMENT: 
 
THE U.S. HAS ASKED FOR, AND RECEIVED, VERY CLOSE 
COOPERATION FROM GHANAIAN SECURITY FORCES IN THE 
AFTERMATH OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS.  TO THE EXTENT 
POSSIBLE UNDER EXISTING LAWS, GHANA HAS AGREED TO 
TIGHTEN ITS OVERSIGHT OF SUSPICIOUS FINANCIAL 
TRANSACTIONS.  IT HAS ALSO AGREED THAT SUBSTANTIAL 
REVISION OF ITS LAWS REGARDING MONEY-LAUNDERING AND 
SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTIONS IS NECESSARY AND SHOULD BE 
PURSUED, AND HAS ASKED FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN DOING 
SO.  THE MISSION HAS LOBBIED THE GOG EXTENSIVELY ON THE 
NECESSITY OF ADOPTING THE FIVE REMAINING INTERNATIONAL 
ANTI-TERRORIST CONVENTIONS, AND THE GOG HAS BEGUN THE 
PROCESS OF ADOPTION. 
 
L.  COOPERATION DURING PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN 
INVESTIGATION/PROSECUTION OF TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST 
AMERICAN CITIZENS/INTERESTS: 
 
ASIDE FROM THE COOPERATION DETAILED ABOVE REGARDING THE 
EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, THE GOG MADE STRONG COOPERATIVE 
STATEMENTS FOLLOWING THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN EAST 
AFRICAN IN 1998, AND ASSISTED WITH ENHANCED SECURITY FOR 
MISSION FACILITIES. 
 
M.  COOPERATION DURING PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN PREVENTION 
OF TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST AMERICAN CITIZENS/INTERESTS: 
 
SAME AS PREVIOUS ANSWER. 
 
POWELL