Cablegate: National Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention

VZCZCXRO5376
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #2623 3041604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311604Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2862
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ACCRA 002623

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CBW AF BWC GH
SUBJECT: NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

REF: A) STATE 178365
B) 05 STATE 025249

1. (SBU) Poloff delivered talking points per Ref A on October 27 to
the MFA's Supervising Director for Multilateral, Passport and Legal
Affairs, Kwesi Quartey. Quartey noted that Ghana was totally
committed to preventing chemical weapons from reaching the wrong
hands. Its failure to pass implementing penal legislation was a
reflection of bureaucratic inertia, not a lack of political will.
He said he would urge the Ministry of Science of Technology to
submit appropriate legislation to parliament.

2. (SBU) Quartey further noted that the GOG was hosting an
all-Africa conference on UNSCR 1540 in two weeks. This, he said,
was further evidence of Ghana's commitment to stop chemical weapons
from spreading. Quartey could not say whether the GOG had already
submitted a national plan to the OPCW that contained realistic
target dates for meeting Article VII obligations but said he would
check into this and apprise us of his findings.

BRIDGEWATER

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