US embassy cable - 05ACCRA1969

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 06 ACCRA 001969 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR R, P AND AF/W 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2015 
TAGS: EAIR, GH, KDEM, KPAO, PHUM, PREL, PTER 
SUBJECT: COMBATING EXTREMISM IN GHANA 
 
REF: A. STATE 159129 
 
     B. ACCRA 661 
 
Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1.  (S)  Summary:  There is little political or religious 
extremism in Ghana. The Mission has an active Muslim outreach 
program and the USG spends about $12 million in programs 
annually directed largely at Ghana's 20 percent Muslim 
population. Other Mission activities help promote tolerance, 
including a large Peace Corps program.  Government of Ghana 
officials speak publicly about the need for tolerance. 
Ghanaian NGOs, including many faith-based organizations, 
actively promote tolerance and condemn violence. We get 
excellent GOG cooperation on counter-terrorism and 
intelligence sharing. We plan to expand our Muslim outreach 
and to continue emphasizing moderation and tolerance in our 
public comments and programs.  The threat of large extremist 
movements is low but Ghana remains vulnerable to terrorist 
violence from small groups taking advantage of Ghana's 
openness and porous borders.  End summary. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Extremism Not a Problem in Ghana 
-------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C)  Some 100 linguistic and ethnic groups live 
peacefully in Ghana and relations between Christians and the 
20 percent Muslim population are generally good.  The 
government and most individual Ghanaians welcome refugees 
(there are around 60,000 in Ghana today). A July 6, 2005 
public opinion survey by the Center for Democratic 
Development (CDD) found that, while ethnic awareness remains 
high, a plurality of Ghanaians (42%) feel equal loyalty to 
their Ghanaian and ethnic identities.  Civil society groups, 
including churches, actively promote social tolerance and 
conflict resolution.  The social tensions that do exist often 
revolve around traditional chieftancy disputes (mostly 
related to land, status and inheritance), inter- and 
intra-party political rivalry, and friction within the Muslim 
community (between moderate Tijanias and more extreme 
Alhasunas and between Andani and Abudu "gates" in the 
Northern Region). There are traditional ethnic feuds, 
especially in northern Ghana, which in the past have 
occasionally led to violence.  Nationally, there is some 
degree of resentment by others against the dominant Akan 
ethnic/linguistic group, as well as by northerners against 
the politically dominant southerners.  Conflicts tend to be 
localized, and not ideological or religious. 
 
3.  (C)  In recent years we have encountered some criticism 
of U.S. global policy, specifically our policy in the Middle 
East. However, the vast majority of Ghanaian Muslims are 
moderate and their leaders welcomed our efforts through our 
Muslim Outreach Program. Former Ambassador Yates was warmly 
received in farewell calls on major Muslim leaders, including 
the National Chief Imam.  At one late night Islamic event 
last month attended by the National Chief Imam, the 
organizing Imam began by announcing his group's love for 
America, their love for the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, and their 
love for the charge d'affaires, who was attending.   The more 
radical Alhasuna leadership has gradually become comfortable 
in meeting with us and participating in our programs. 
According to a February, 2005 Public Affairs Office of 
Research poll, the percentage of Ghanaian Muslims with a very 
favorable view of the United States increased from 38% in 
2003 to 42% in 2004. 
 
4.  (S)  There is a small extreme element in the Muslim 
community, reflecting at least in part an aggressive Iranian 
and Saudi influence in northern regions.  As reported ref B, 
Emboffs encountered this element in a March, 2005 trip to the 
northern city of Tamale, when Muslim students at the Tamale 
Polytechnic boycotted our scheduled meeting.  We have also 
encountered extremist Muslims in Kumasi.  As reported ref C, 
Ghana is not a major focus of terrorist organizations but has 
clear and significant vulnerabilities, including a porous 
border, corrupt border/customs officials and growing 
narcotics trafficking. 
 
----------------------- 
Muslim Outreach Program 
----------------------- 
 
5.  (U)  The Mission counteracts extremism primarily through 
our inter-agency Muslim outreach program, which includes 
$12 million in USG assistance to Ghana's Muslim community 
annually and benefits an estimated 210,000 people. Many 
offices in the Mission participate in this coordinated 
campaign. 
 
6.  (U)  Overall Diplomacy and Dialogue: 
---------------------------------------- 
 
--  The Embassy observes a number of events for Ramadan as 
part of our regular programming.  Every year the Ambassador 
hosts an Iftaar dinner for the Muslim leadership; we make a 
presentation of a sheep to the National Chief Imam; and we 
donate food to needy Muslims through mosques in poor 
communities.  Recently, we have also sponsored soccer 
tournaments and Koranic quizzes for Muslim youth. 
 
-- In 2004, the Embassy held a conference to explain 
scholarship and educational assistance programs to Muslim 
educators and student leaders. 
 
-- Throughout 2003 and 2004 we held dialogues with Muslim 
students and community leaders in Accra, Tamale, Kumasi and 
other parts of the country. 
 
7. (U) Public Affairs Programs (All long-term) 
------------------------------ 
 
- Muslim mid-career professionals and opinion leaders, have 
participated in various exchange programs to expose them to 
US society and culture, and the principles of religious 
tolerance. In October 2004, Muslim youth leaders from both 
the ruling and the main opposition parties participated in a 
three-week International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) 
under the theme "Youth Leadership in the US".  One has since 
become a member of Ghana,s Parliament. 
 
- A teacher at an Islamic high school, who participated in an 
IVLP under the theme "US Society and the Political Process", 
is host of a religious program on two nationwide TV stations. 
 He is one of post,s main liaisons with different segments 
of the Muslim community.  For example, he mobilized Muslim 
students for a speaker program with US speaker, Imam Yahya 
Hendi, who spoke about "Islam in the U.S."  He also helped 
prepare the guest list of Muslims for post,s annual hosting 
of the Iftaar dinner during Ramadan. 
 
- Two Muslim women participated in different women,s 
leadership programs in 2003 and 2004.  Both have since spoken 
strongly about working in the predominantly-Muslim north to 
help young girls enroll and stay in school.  One has resigned 
from her private legal practice in southern Ghana and 
returned north to begin her NGO work. 
 
- One Muslim journalist IVLP beneficiary from northern Ghana 
works with a state-owned,nationwide radio broadcasting 
station and his programs are aired across the country.  A 
Muslim police officer who participated in an IVLP on 
Combating International Crime and Terrorism returned with new 
ideas on how Ghana could better protect its borders. 
 
- U.S. Imam Yahya Hendi was brought from Georgetown 
University to Ghana under the speaker program and told 
various Muslim leaders and youth audiences in Accra and 
Kumasi how Muslims, and others, practice their religion 
freely and observe their own religious holidays in the United 
States.  Many listeners, especially youth, did not know that 
Muslims could freely practice their religion in the United 
States. 
 
-A U.S. speaker on grassroots democracy held a three-day 
conference for NGO representatives, local and regional 
officials and journalists, including some Muslims, on how to 
make government officials more responsive to community needs. 
 Many participants continue to network among themselves to 
seek greater accountability from their political leaders in 
northern Ghana.  Our Public Affairs Section monitors the 
media for stories related to extremism, engaging the press on 
the need for responsible journalism, and discouraging stories 
which contribute to violence or extremism. 
 
8. (U) Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Programs 
(Long-term) 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
-- In Nima, Accra's largest Muslim community (and one of its 
poorest neighborhoods), with 2005 funding, ODC is: 
 
-constructing an Islamic Community Center. 
-building and furnishing an addition to an existing medical 
clinic, which serves hundreds of thousands of people. 
-planning to build an office for the Islamic Education Unit 
of the Ministry of Education. 
 
-- In Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city, ODC is building a 
medical clinic for the Muslim community. We are waiting on 
the arrival of the property to furnish this clinic. 
 
-- In Northern Ghana, ODC is: 
 
-building and equipping a clinical lab at Navrongo Hospital. 
-nearly finished with constructing and equipping $200,000 
worth of wells in disadvantaged, predominantly Muslim areas. 
 (In 2005, we will contribute $100,000 more to this 
construction). 
ODC is also providing books and school furnishings to schools 
built with DOD funds in Nima and Apirede. 
 
 
9. (U) USAID - All projects have 5-year timelines with, we 
hope, long-term impact. 
------------- 
 
- USAID through Catholic Relief Services supports the Center 
for Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies in the Northern 
Region, where there has been violence between ethnic groups 
(although not Muslims against Christians). The goals of the 
Center's activities are to: 
 
- build capacity of chiefs and assembly members to resolve 
community conflicts 
- facilitate radio and community peace programs 
- set up Satellite Peace Centers with both Muslims and 
Christians working as mediators and trainers 
 
This program benefits 8,000 Muslims directly (and about 
20,000 people through radio programs).  It is focused on 
communities with conflict and is funded with approximately 
$216,500 from USAID and CRS over five years. 
 
- USAID through Strengthening HIV/AIDS Partnerships in 
Education (SHAPE) promotes acceptance of people living with 
HIV/AIDS.  As such, the SHAPE program not only de-stigmatizes 
AIDS victims contributes to the general level of tolerance in 
society.  The SHAPE program start date was September 2, 2004. 
 
- USAID supports Northern Ghana Peace-Building and Conflict 
Transformation (NGPBCT). Also working through Catholic Relief 
Services, NGPCBT works to reduce the frequency of violent 
conflicts and mitigate ongoing ones in Northern Ghana (where 
there is a large Muslim plurality) through building local 
conflict resolution capacity. The program will train 500 
people. 
 
- USAID through Food for Peace and in cooperation with 
TechnoServe/Ghana, runs programs that benefit 3000 Muslim 
households, providing technical assistance to farming groups 
to improve productivity and access bulk purchasers. The 
programs also train farmers in storage best practices and 
safe pesticide use, as well as in business management. They 
also provide assistance to shea and rice processing groups 
(especially female processors of shea butter and rice) and 
maize farmers, with funding of $300,000 annually for five 
years. 
 
USAID has numerous other programs in health, education, and 
governance, from which may Ghanaians (both Muslims and 
others) benefit, but those above are the ones most focused on 
the specific issues of tolerance and prevention/ 
discouragement of extremism. 
 
10. (U) Self Help Projects (Short-term) 
--------------------------------------- 
 
Muslim communities in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern 
regions benefit from the small projects of the Embassy,s 
Self Help program.  Over the past three years, the projects 
have totaled about $30,000/year.  In 2005, $37,000 out of a 
budget of $70,000 in Self Help Funds will be for Muslim 
communities.  Over the years, these projects have included: 
 
- Income generating projects - such as grinding and 
processing mills for rice, shea butter,  groundnuts, and 
maize. 
- Craft workshop centers for basket weavers, livestock 
rearing for women groups and cooperative groundnut farming. 
- Health - by providing funds for a health center building 
- Education - providing building materials for primary 
schools, feeding centers, vocational centers, libraries and 
day nurseries. 
- Housing - for teachers 
- Water - providing funds for laying of pvc pipes and 
provision of standing pipes. 
 
These projects serve to demonstrate to Muslims that our 
economic assistance and concern is extended to them as much 
as to other Ghanaians. Muslims actually receive higher share 
proportionally than persons of other faiths in Ghana, based 
on their percentage of the population. 
 
11. (U) Democracy and Human Rights Fund (Short-term) 
--------------------------------------- 
 
- In 2004, the Embassy granted $3,900 to the Islamic 
Foundation for Peace and Development for a series of 
workshops focused on child rights, including child 
protection, the right to education, forced marriage and child 
development. The workshops reached approximately 150 adults 
and 350 students in Muslim communities of Greater Accra. 
Community dramas and movies will also help educate the 
communities.  We are expanding this program in 2005. 
 
- In 2004, our DHRF program awarded grants to the Berekum 
Civic Union which reached 97,000 people with a message of 
political tolerance through a tolerance march and other 
events.  Women in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding used 
DHRF funds for a series of workshops and radio programs to 
teach women mediation and conflict resolution skills. 
 
12.  (U)  Other USG Programs Countering Extremism (Long Term) 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
In addition to our Muslim outreach program, other Mission 
programs promote tolerance and mitigate against extremism. 
The Peace Corps plays a particularly important role in Ghana. 
Both Ghanaians and Americans are justly proud that Ghana was 
first Peace Corps program to open, and has never had to close 
for any reason.  Seven-thousand volunteers have served in 
Ghana since 1962. The constant presence of PCV's and their 
engagement with Ghanaians in all areas of the country have 
promoted peace, friendship, and a very favorable attitude 
towards the United States. For many Ghanaians, Peace Corps 
volunteers are the only Americans they meet.  The Peace Corps 
has been, and remains, a constant and visible symbol of 
American friendship.  Despite the vicissitudes of global 
relations and fluctuations in attitudes toward U.S. foreign 
policy over the years, the Peace Corps presence in Ghana has 
been key to stabilizing a positive view--and a sense that we 
are long-term friends who will not abandon Ghana. 
 
13.  (U) INL 
------------ 
 
Our International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) 
programs assist in professionalizing Ghana's security 
agencies and to build public confidence in them. The 
Department of Justice current provides 14 weeks of basic 
policing skills to 30 Ghana Police Service trainers, a 
program promoting respect for human rights, sensitivity to 
crime victims and community policing techniques. In 2004 the 
Embassy funded a new Internal Monitoring Unit to combat 
police corruption. In 2002, we introduced five bicycle patrol 
teams to Accra. In 2004, we donated 40 more bicycles to 
expand this community policing effort to Kumasi. These 
programs are aimed at increasing community interaction with 
police, breaking down mistrust and preventing the violence 
that can occur when communities grow frustrated by 
ineffective law enforcement.  They undercut support for 
extremism by making the GOG more capable of providing 
protection for the people and more visibly active in 
promoting the public welfare. 
 
------------------------- 
GOG and Local NGO Efforts 
------------------------- 
 
14.  (S)  GOG officials regularly emphasize peace and 
tolerance in their public statements.  In his January 2004 
State of the Nation address and his 2005 inaugural speech, 
President Kufuor emphasized the need for national unity and 
tolerance.  The GOG is very supportive in the Global War On 
Terrorism and in sharing intelligence. 
 
15.  (SBU)  In the education sector, the national curriculum 
pays particular attention to developing Ghanaian national 
identity.   The government has also demonstrated a strong 
commitment to significantly increasing school attendance 
among poor and marginalized populations.  Enrollment gains in 
the Muslim north have been particularly pronounced. 
Beginning five years ago, the government started providing 
support to Muslim schools.  The Ministry of Education's 
Islamic Education Unit, established to help mainstream 
Islamic education in the national curriculum, has a 
moderating influence on Muslim schooling. 
 
16.  (SBU)  The Ministry of Interior set up a committee of 
government officers and civil society elements, to mediate 
the Dagbon ethnic conflict.  It has worked NGOs to develop an 
early warning system for violence and conflict in society. 
However, the initiative has not yet been implemented, and the 
GOG still works throughout traditional leaders (chiefs of 
varying levels) to counter extremism and promote tolerance. 
 
17.  (SBU)  There are many Ghanaian NGOs and civil society 
groups which speak out and work against extremism.  These 
include the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), the West 
African Network for Peace (WANEP), the Christian Council, the 
Catholic Secretariat, the Ghanaian Conference of Religions 
for Peace, and inter-faith mediation teams in the northern 
regions.   There are also several Muslim groups active in 
this area, such as the Friends Against Global Terrorism 
(FAGLAT) and the Muslim Dialogue and Humanitarian 
Organization.  In addition, Ghana's free, lively media 
frequently carries commentary and reports related to 
promoting tolerance.  An independent National Reconciliation 
Committee (NRC) completed its work in seeking truth behind 
Ghana's decades of human rights abuses before the current 
government.  In some ways it has been the institutional 
embodiment of moderation in Ghanaian politics and society, 
intent on revealing the truth about years of autocratic rule 
and human rights violations.  But it has rejected a policy of 
retribution that might engender a much more dangerous 
national extremism/polarization that could undermine present 
security and reinforce a cycle of revenge. 
 
18.  (SBU) We will reach out to the Tamale Polytechnic, which 
boycotted a previous visit by Embassy officers.  We will seek 
opportunities to speak out publicly against extremism and in 
favor of tolerance.  We plan to host a Daniel Pearl Music Day 
event in October which will give us an opportunity to 
reinforce this message.  Ultimately, our work to promote 
economic and political development are key to promoting an 
atmosphere of tolerance.  USAID's $50-60 million program in 
Ghana, our election observing, our Peace Corps program and 
other efforts, help tackle the root of extremism and social 
conflict -- poverty and weak political institutions.  We will 
continue this engagement and continue to publicly praise 
Ghana's tolerance and cooperation in counter-terrorism. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
19.  (S)  The level of extremism in Ghana is low and our 
outreach programs are extensive.  We have made tremendous 
inroads with the Muslim community and have an ambitious 
program for Ramadan this year. USAID is doing an overall 
assessment of Muslim Education in Ghana in FY 2006. We have 
built new bridges with the Muslim Dialogue and Humanitarian 
Organization, a Muslim youth group which speaks out publicly 
against terrorism, and we are expanding cooperation with 
Friends Against Global Terrorism.  Recently the Vice 
President of Ghana publicly acknowledged our work with the 
Muslim community. The Palestinian Dean of the Diplomatic 
Corps told assembled Ambassadors that he hears about our 
Outreach Program whenever he travels in Muslim areas. 
 
20.  (C) The Muslim communities we visit seem impressed and 
very grateful that we are paying attention to them.  We 
believe this personal outreach part of the program is at 
least as important as the material and financial assistance 
we have provided. Our personal engagement with people and 
areas that might have previously been ignored is crucial. 
Instead of feeling snubbed, some of the dispossessed now feel 
more important, and more included in the national and 
international scene. In this regard, we also believe we could 
have an even greater impact if we had more means to focus on 
youth.  The lack of educational and recreational 
opportunities for youth provide us with an opportunity to 
play a huge role if we commit the resources and people to do 
it. The Iranians and Saudis seem to have influence in Islamic 
schools and mosques with relatively less financial 
investment.  The greater the engagement we can build and 
maintain with Muslims, especially youth, the greater the 
sense they have of connectedness to the West, and America in 
particular -- and the less threatening we both perceived each 
other to be. 
 
21. (S)  Ghana in not likely to experience a mass extremist 
political or anti-American movement, Muslim or otherwise.  It 
is now democratic with a fairly moderate traditions of 
governance, and appreciation for the necessity of toleration. 
 Ghana is also pro-American. However, the threat of terrorism 
remains clear and present, as the same live-and-let-live 
attitude that permeates Ghanaian culture also makes Ghana 
susceptible to ease of entry, to bribery of officials, and to 
security officers sometimes not noticing when real danger is 
present.  A determined individual or foreigner (or small 
group of foreigners) would have little trouble perpetrating a 
deadly attack.  In the contemporary social/political 
environment of West Africa, Ghana is an important, moderate 
friend and ally of the U.S., but its openness, its democratic 
government, and its friendship with the U.S. may make it a 
more likely target than its less friendly neighbors, and more 
vulnerable to a quick and violent terrorist attack by an 
individual or small non-indigenous group.  Unlike some 
places, the moderate and long term trends in Ghana are quite 
positive.  However, the physical vulnerability of U.S. 
personnel in the near term (until we move into the New 
Embassy Compound) remains serious, despite the relative 
paucity of extremist activity. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LANIER