Ex-CIA Man sets up base in Accra

Accra - Ghana's security services may have gone into deep slumber and indications are that all manner of intelligence operatives are pitching their tents in Accra.

These operatives working for strange organisations and sometimes hostile governments are working with the ease of toffee peddlers.

One of such operatives is Samuel H. Wyman who worked with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the USA for 31 years.

Wyman is now putting his roots into the soil of one Mankata Street, Airport residential area.

He described himself as "Vice President, Government Relations" of an intelligence gathering company called Net Africa.

Wyman's intelligence record is by all standards impressive. He worked as an operations officer of the CIA for 31 years in the Near East, Western Europe and Africa.

Countries from which he helped the CIA set up a network of international operations, usually detrimental to the host included Egypt, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria and Spain.

In fact Wyman did so well to advance US global interests that he was frequently called upon to participate in foreign policy deliberations at the national security council and before the congress.

He earned the Department of State's Meritorious Honour Award, and during his 11 years as a member of the Senior Intelligence Service was twice recognised with the Meritorious Officer Award.

Upon his formal exit from the ranks of the CIA, Wyman was awarded the distinguished intelligence medal by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Wyman holds degrees from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington D.C. and the Middle Eastern Studies Institute of Columbia University in New York. He earned a certificate in Arabic from the University of Baghdad and is fluent in Spanish as well as Arabic and has a working knowledge of French.

So what is such an experienced intelligence officer doing in Ghana at this time? Is he here to collect secrets which will enable his masters to shore up the Rawlings regime or he is just gathering Ghana's secrets for sale to foreign interests?

Documents obtained by the "Weekly Insight" from official and semiofficial sources indicate that Wyman is working for the governments of South Korea and Croatia.

He is also providing intelligence for major multinational corporation including GEC Marconi Ltd. Gulfstream Aircraft Inc. (The manufacturers of Mr. Rawlings presidential jet), Lochud Martin Corporation and Matsashita Electric Industrial Company Ltd.

Wyman is also the Executive President of a company called Jefferson Waterman International.

JWI boasts that Wyman applies "his decades of experience working within critical regions with decision makers."

"Mr. Wyman specialises in assisting JWI corporate clients who seek to enter or expand international markets."

"His project management partnership development, risk analysis, and strategic consulting services have significantly furthered the goals of US and foreign companies involved in telecommunications, information technology, defence and aerospace industries."

JWI admits in a document which is available to "Weekly Insight" that it operates "across national boundaries and inside centers of power to help clients achieve objectives...."

It says "through its sources in Washington and around the world, Jefferson Waterman International is able to obtain early authoritative information on international policy developments, decisions and opportunities that can affect a country's or company's future.

"This information - discretely acquired, expertly analyzed and reported on a timely basis - lays the groundwork for effective strategies or signals they need for immediate action.

"JWI tailors its government monitoring activities to the political, security economic and trade issues each client faces. From sanctions to narcotics, foreign aid to excess military articles.

"JWI closely tracks legislative and executive activity and calls upon its extensive network of contacts to learn what is happening and what is going to happen.

"In some cases, because of JWI's reputation, JWI personnel actually are part of what is happening, often participating in forums in which international policies are debated and shaped.

We pause to ask, so who are the contacts of the JWI in Ghana's security system and government and what do they gain from collaborating with this intelligence agency?

In evaluating what Wyman and his organisations are doing in Ghana, we need to remind ourselves that the Central Intelligence Agency of the US masterminded the overthrow of the Nkrumah government and the assassination of the Congolese nationalist leader Patrice Lumumba.

In both operations the CIA received substantial assistance from the Israeli Secret Service, MOSSAD with which Wyman is known to have collaborated during his stay in the Middle East.

In any case which government worth its mandate allows foreign intelligence organisations to work so freely in its corridors.

How do the operations of Wyman, Net Africa and JWI impact on Ghana's excellent relations with countries like Cuba, Libya, Iran, Algeria and the United States?

Perhaps Victor Gbeho and Totobi Quarkyi will want to hold themselves in readiness to answer a few questions.