1. The PNDC met leaders of the Muslim Community and announced plans to demolish the Central Mosque in Accra in October 1986. [BBC Summary of World Broadcasts from Accra, 20 October 1986. Attached.] Both parties reportedly agreed that the poorly situated mosque should be demolished to make way for a two-storey car park at the Rawlings Park. The muslim leaders were given a choice of three sites within Accra for a new mosque. [ibid.]

Shortly after a meeting, a gang claiming to represent muslim worshippers at the Central Mosque attacked the offices of the Accra City Council. [ibid.] Alhaji Mohammed Gedel was arrested for allegedly instigating the youths to attack the offices of some Islamic organizations, namely the Ghana Muslim Community, the Council of Ulamas and the Ghana Muslim Representative Council. [BBC Summary Of World Broadcasts, 28 October 1986. Attached.]

2. Following the coup of December 1981, all political parties including the Ghana Democratic Movement (GDM) led by J.H. Mensah, were banned. [Europa World Year Book 1986, (London: Europa Publications Ltd., 1987), p.1173.] The London based GDM was founded in April 1984 [FBIS report from Accra Domestic Service, 18 April 1984.] and advocates the restoration of a liberal democratic system [ibid.] and the overthrow of the PNDC. [BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 20 April 1984. Attached.] The GDM published allegations of Human Rights abuses perpetrated by the Rawling's regime. [Colin Legum, African Contemporary Record 1984-1985, (London: Africana Publishing Company Ltd., 1985), p.B456.] J.H. Mensah was Finance Minister in the civilian government of K.H. Busia from 1969 until it was overthrown by the military in 1972. He was jailed twice before being released in June 1978. [ The Associated Press, 10 December 1985. Attached.]

Donald Ray (1986) states that the financial and political forces behind the GDM were those of J.H. Mensah and others from different political groups. [Donald Ray, Ghana Politics, Economics and Society, ( Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 1986), p.114. Attached pp. 112-117, 158-161.] It was reported that the GDM lost support from the expatriate Ghanaian businessmen as they contemplated new business opportunities in Ghana. According to Donald Ray (1986) the GDM and other opposition movements remained fragmented, personalized and ineffective in linking up with dissidents in the military. [ibid. p.117.]

USA Customs officials arrested three Ghanaian nationals on 8 December 1985, for arranging to buy large quantities of arms for shipment abroad. [" Three Ghanaians Charged with Arms-Export Plot", The New York Times, 2 December 1985.Attached.] The three men, including J.H. Mensah, reportedly belonging to the GDM, were charged with conspiracy and violating US customs regulations. [BBC Summary Of World Broadcasts, 10 December 1985. Attached.] For more information regarding the GDM, and Mensah's connections with the Nobistor affair ( BBC 25 March 1986) please consult the attachments.