VZCZCXRO0374
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #0432/01 0921753
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011753Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6355
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

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 
------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) The following responses are keyed to questions in reftel 
paragraph 19: 
 
 
A.) TITLE/ESTIMATED COST/PRIORITY 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
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 
 
ACCRA 00000432  002 OF 003 
 
 
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 
 
ACCRA 00000432  003 OF 003 
 
 
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