Fake U.S. [and Dutch] Embassy in Ghana Open for a Decade Before Being Shut Down

[rmstock]

The exterior of the fake embassy in Accra, Ghana. (U.S. Department of State photo)
Fake U.S. Embassy in Ghana Open for a Decade Before Being Shut Down
by JOHN HAYWARD | 5 Dec 2016 | 92
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/12/05/fake-u-s-embassy-ghana-shut-decade/

  "Ghana has been rocked by the shutdown of a fake U.S. embassy run by
   Ghanaian and Turkish mobsters, which issued phony visas for a decade
   with the indulgence of corrupt Ghanaian officials.
   
   The Washington Post describes the operation:
   
      For a decade, an American flag flew outside a battered pink
      building in Ghana's capital city, welcoming out-of-town visitors
      who, once inside, found a photo of President Obama hanging on the
      wall. Signs confirmed to travelers — who had been bused in from the
      most remote parts of West Africa — that they had arrived at the
      U.S. Embassy in Accra.
   
      The "consular officers" working there were not Americans, but they
      spoke English and Dutch and issued official-looking visas and
      identification papers. They charged their customers $6,000.
   
   The real U.S. embassy is in an entirely different, much wealthier
   neighborhood, and is protected by security fences.

   
   Exterior of the legitimate U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana (U.S. Department of State photo)
   
   "Raids led to the recovery of 150 passports from 10 countries and visas
   from the U.S., India, South Africa and the European Schengen zone," the
   Associated Press reports.
   
   The Associated Press adds that the U.S. State Department did not state
   whether customers were able to travel on these visas, some of which
   were "fraudulently obtained" but "legitimate," according to the State
   Department. False documents including bank records, education records,
   and birth certificates were also provided.
   
   An industrial sewing machine at a nearby dress shop was reportedly used
   to bind the covers on counterfeit documents produced by the operation.
   The dress shop was also reportedly employed to ship fake documents
   across Africa and Europe.
   
   The phony embassy advertised its services with billboards and fliers in
   Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Tobago, in addition to sending out cars to "the
   most remote parts of West Africa" to ferry customers to the Ghanaian
   capital city of Accra.
   
   Despite all this advertising, the phony embassy was able to stay in
   business for the better part of a decade with help from corrupt
   officials bribed by the gangsters to look the other way.
   
   A corrupt Ghanaian attorney was also a key player in the operation,
   serving as Africa's version of Better Call Saul. One of his
   contributions involved keeping the police from searching the dress shop
   by convincing them a different court case was already pending on the
   store. As the State Department explained, this other case was
   "determined to be fallacious, but it bought enough time for corrupt
   officials to arrange for bail for members of the organized crime group
   so that they could move the document production facility outside of
   Accra."
   
   One of the most curious details of this story is the way it was
   reported. The phony embassy was actually raided and shut down over the
   summer, but even though the U.S. State Department was a key part of the
   investigation, the raid wasn't publicized in any news releases by State
   or its Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Only last week did the news break
   in Ghanaian media, prompting international coverage from major media
   over the weekend.
   
   "State Department officials in Ghana deferred questions to the media
   office in Washington, which did not immediately respond to a request
   for more information," the Washington Post reports.
   
   The State Department mentioned that an informant also said a fake
   embassy for the Netherlands was being operated in Accra. The UK
   Telegraph reported that "officials in the Netherlands were not
   immediately reachable for comment on Sunday."
   
   According to Reuters, it was a tip to American authorities that kicked
   off the investigation, which ultimately included "the Ghana Detectives
   Bureau and police as well as other international partners to shut down
   the ring."
   
   READ MORE STORIES ABOUT:   
   National Security, Africa, Ghana, Netherlands, U.S. State Department,
   visa fraud "




Mogelijk Nederlandse nepambassade in Ghana
Criminelen hebben tien jaar lang een nepambassade van de Verenigde Staten gerund in Ghana. Opvallend is dat ook informatie aan het licht is gekomen over een mogelijke Nederlandse nepambassade in de Ghanese hoofdstad. Daar wordt onderzoek naar gedaan.
Bewerkt door: Redactie 04-12-16, 01:12 Laatste update: 23:02 Bron: ANP
http://archive.is/gNwXw


Minister Bert Koenders was eerder dit jaar op bezoek in Ghana. © anp
[ok kids please refrain from more psychedelic druggies you hear?]



SEE ALSO:

http://nltimes.nl/2016/12/06/fake-us-embassy-discovered-ghana-fake-dutch-embassy-sought

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/04/fake-us-embassy-in-ghana-shut-down-after-ten-years-issuing-visas

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/05/fake-embassy-ghana-sold-american-visas-10-years-staffed-turkish/

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/851078/fake-us-embassy-operates-for-10-years-before-its-shut-down

[rmstock]

Residents indicate to want more openness about development at The Monastery
Picture : Hanneke Marcelis
Refugee Monastery Shrouded in Secrecy

  "BREDASE BODE  / 7 DECEMBER 2016 /  WEEK 49   www.internetbode.nl  Page 3
   
   Housing for refugee status holders and development monastery causes unrest amongst residents.
   Enough is enough for Residents of the Countryside Landscape Triangle
   
   BREDA/BAVEL - Developments within the Scenic Triangle bear major
   concerns amongst residents in the area between Breda and Bavel. Two
   weeks ago the municipality made it known that 46 refugee status holders
   will be settled in the Carriage House. Last weekend the Municipality
   went a step further, by also announcing that there are far advanced
   plans for the development of a large school for students with learning
   and behavioral problems in the area.  Meanwhile there also prevails the
   incomprehension over the fog around the activities and work on the
   monumental Monastery at the Seminarieweg * Seminary Road * . For the
   local residents this has become the last straw.  "Keep in mind the
   absorption capabilities of this area" one of the residents calls upon
   the college.
   
   by HANNEKE MARCELIS
   
   Councilman Patrick van Lunteren entered into a dialogue on Nov 26 with
   the residents of the Scenic Triangle about plans of the Municipality to
   lodge 46 refugee status holders in the Carriage House at the
   Seminarieweg * Seminary Road * . It soon became clear that there is
   more at play inside the rural area between Breda and Bavel. Last
   Saturday a follow-up meeting took place with the local residents.
   
   Refugee Statusholders
   
   The Municipality of Breda purchased the vacant Carriage House in order
   to house 46 socalled refugee statusholders. The destination plan will
   be adjusted for 10 years to allow for this permanent housing.  It is a
   major change for the residents as the population of the area will be
   doubled. Jaap Belt, chairman of the foundation for the Preservation of
   the Scenic Triangle, holds forth a passionate plea argument : "We have
   all understanding for the housing of refugee statusholders inside the
   Carriage House, but not for the composition and number. Why not twenty
   refugee status holders ? And why not a couple of families, instead of
   46 men ?" commitments can not be made by the Councilman.  The topic
   will be discussed next week in the town council.
   
   Monastery
   
   Also, the future of the former convent of the Fathers of the sacred
   Heart causes a major stir with the residents. Project planner Pieter
   Bosma is, according to his own words, developing a 4 star Hotel at the
   grounds of the Monastery. Residents belief little of this and have
   called upon local authorities and the council to take action. " There
   was and is no clear plan, there are no licenses granted and Bosma
   refuses to engage with the local residents. Yet they are working night
   and day at the Monastery." explains Belt. The Municipality though
   indicates to be in conversation with Bosma and to carry out checks on
   the work. Major doubts are loudly heard amongst residents at the
   effectiveness of this approach. The openness and recovery of trust as
   wished for, seems far away.
   
   BreedSaam ("Broad Together")
   
   A new topic on the development agenda of the Scenic Triangle is the
   possible construction of a new school in the area.  The Cooperative
   Association of school boards BreedSaam has filed a request at the
   Municipality for a building project on the grounds next to soccer club JEKA.
   The school will offer special education for students from twelve to
   eighteen years with learning and behavioral problems.  A striking
   choice, according to a former female employee of one of the BreedSaam
   schools.  "These young people need a low-stimulus environment, which
   the area next to JEKA is absolutely not." The residents also see
   nothing in the idea. They have a clear message for the Municipality :
   "Let this plan rest. We've had enough for a while."