GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE: GHANA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 001610 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014 TAGS: MARR MCAP MOPS GH SUBJECT: GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE: GHANA REF: STATE 154953 Classified By: Ambassador Mary C. Yates, reason 1.5 (B/D). ¶1. (C) Ambassador Yates delivered reftel points on the USG's Global Defense Posture review to Foreign Minister Akufo-Addo July ¶27. She emphasized the collaborative nature of the review, and noted that a similar demarche would be made upon the Ministry of Defense. She said that with the completion of the Exercise Reception Facility in Ghana, the concept of cooperative security envisioned in the strategy review already had a foundation here. She also briefly reviewed the status of several MOUs that required signature by the GOG (the C-12 basing in Accra, the African Fuel Hub Initiative),as examples of cooperative arrangements that reflected new security realities in Africa. Akufo-Addo agreed that Cold War defense arrangements were now out of date, and said that the review would be beneficial. He promised to review the status of the outstanding MOUs (now t the Office of the Attorney General). If the GOG had any substantive response to the demarche points, after close review within his Ministry, appropriate officials would reply, he said. ¶2. (C) DCM Lanier delivered reftel points to Chief of the Defense Staff, Lt. General Seth Obeng on July 28. Lanier noted the evolution in the U.S. defense posture and praised Ghana for having already participated as a partner and ally in strategic readjustment, mentioning the same specific projects noted above. Gen. Obeng made it clear he was aware of the change in defense posture and was quite pleased with the cooperative security relations it fostered. He gently warned, however, that the U.S. must be careful to be certain that in Africa the increased American presence did not look like occupation. He also asked that the assistance and benefits of the new U.S.-Ghana relationship be extended to other countries in region. He seemed concerned that the appearance of an excessively close relationship with the U.S. could damage Ghana's credibilty in the region. YATES YATES