GENERAL CHARLES WALD CALLS ON PRESIDENT KUFUOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001509

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV GH ECOWAS
SUBJECT: GENERAL CHARLES WALD CALLS ON PRESIDENT KUFUOR


Classified By: Polchief Richard Kaminski, reason 1.5 (B/D).


1. (SBU) Summary. General Charles Wald, Deputy EUCOM
Commander, accompanied by Ambassador Yates and the Wald
delegation, called on President Kufuor July 16. Wald offered
congratulations on Ghana's MCA selection, offered to assist
with GAF mobility problems, praised Ghana's ECOWAS
leadership, and noted the USG's strong interest in seeing
Africa equipped to respond to security challenges "at its own
time and choosing." He also announced Ghana's selection for
the State Partnership Program. Kufuor spoke warmly of his
reception at the G-8 Sea Island meeting, thanked the USG its
continuing security assistance, requested C-130 aircraft for
Ghana's air force, and agreed that a strengthened African
security structure was in "everyone's interest." Kufuor also
professed optimism regarding the upcoming Accra III talks on
Cote d'Ivoire. End summary.


2. (C) General Charles Wald, accompanied by Ambassador
Yates, Polad Snell, Brigadier General Zahner, and other
members of the embassy and delegation staff, called on
President Kufuor July 16. Defense Minister Kwame Addo-Kufuor
and Chief of Defense Staff Seth Obeng also attended on the
Ghanaian side. Wald began by congratulating Kufuor on
Ghana's selection for MCA. He also praised the strength of
USG-Ghana military cooperation, welcomed the African Union
announcement of 5 regional standby forces, commended Ghana's
ECOWAS leadership, extolled General Obeng's military planning
prowess, and endorsed the concept of an African Union
security system that is equipped to "respond at its own
option" to continental crises. Wald said that, for a start,
the USG would "help with mobility" for the Ghana Armed
Forces. He also announced Ghana's selection for the State
Partnership Program, with Ghana to benefit from North
Dakota's reserve units.


3. (C) Wald suggested that ECOWAS was "the model for Africa"
in its handling of politico-military challenges, and the USG
would help Africa replicate that model elsewhere. Wald also
said he had been favorably impressed with the increasing
technical competence of the ECOWAS military staff, with new
officers from ECOWAS countries coming on board. The USG,
said Wald, had been making major efforts to establish
effective bulwarks against terrorism in North Africa, and he
hoped to see the same sort of cooperation with ECOWAS, with
its strengthened planning capability. The newly announced
Global Peace Keeping Initiative would be one vehicle for such
assistance, he suggested.


4. (C) President Kufuor thanked Wald for his remarks on
Ghana's contributions to regional security. He noted his
pleasure at attending the G-8 Sea Island meetings with other
African heads of state, saying that "we wish to provide for
ourselves," but "we must be realists," and keep close
relations with donor governments. An effective African
security system required help from friendly governments, he
said. Kufuor thanked the USG for Ghana's MCA selection, and
praised the embassy's support and involvement in the process.
Kufuor praised USG bi-lateral military aid programs, and
several times asked for provision of C-130 aircraft. At one
point, Kufor called departing TV cameramen back into his
office, and had them tape his request to Wald for the C-130s.
Wald responded by once again offering help with "mobility"
and by saying that the USG would "look at" provision of
C-130s scheduled to be taken out of service. (Note: Press
articles the following day took their cue from the
President's approach as they headlined, "Ghana to Receive US
Transport Planes." Expectations may be difficult to fulfill
with the President's prestige on the line. End note).


5. (SBU) General Wald announced and detailed Ghana's
selection for the State Partnership Program, which had been
formally designated that day as a Ghana/North Dakota
partnership. Wald's home state, said Wald, offered
outstanding air and engineering reserve units who would work
with the Ghanaian armed forces to increase their
effectiveness and expertise. Kufuor was pleased with the
news on the SPP and the fact that Ghana was only the third
country in Africa to qualify.


6. (SBU) Prompted by a question by Ambassador Yates, Kufuor
expressed guarded optimism on the Accra III peace talks
scheduled for July 29 and 30. He expected Presidents
Obasanjo, Bongo, Kerekou, Toure, Compaore, and possible
Mbeki, among others, to attend, as well as UNSG Kofi Annan,
and all the various players in the Ivorien crisis, including
President Gbagbo. Although all the various factions would be
expected to compromise, Gbagbo would be particularly looked
to for helpful concessions, he said.


7. (C) Comment. General Wald's praise for Ghana's military
fell on very receptive ears, civilian and uniformed alike.
USG interest in an effective African security system
dovetails with Ghana's wish for enhanced military
professionalism and regional reach. The Ghanaian government
press corps, unskilled (or uninterested) in the subtleties of
donor/recipient conversation, promptly reported that Wald had
promised C-130s to Ghana, something we may have to walk back
in future press remarks. However, the level of cooperation
between our two militaries has never been higher, and seems
poised for further progress. End Comment.




YATES