US embassy cable - 96ACCRA7188

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