INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON LIBERIA - GHANA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 002340

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2014
TAGS: GH LI PREL
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON LIBERIA - GHANA
VIEWS

REF: STATE 246175

Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.5 d and e.


1. (C) On November 24, PolChief met with Mr. G.A.A. Saame,
Ghana's Acting Director for African Affairs at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, and his Acting Deputy, Mrs. Abadoo, to
deliver reftel points on the need for better local
coordination and consensus within the International Contact
Group on Liberia (ICGL). Both MFA contacts are very new on
the job and neither knew about the ICGL coordination problems
in Liberia. On November 26, PolChief spoke again with Mr.
Saame, who said he was drafting a memo on the issue to the
Foreign Minister. We will follow up with the Ministry again
in the coming week.


2. (C) Comment: The Minister is running for reelection in
the December 7 parliamentary and presidential elections and
travels extensively with the President on the campaign trail.
It will be difficult to get his attention on the ICGL issue.
While we were disappointed at the lack of information at the
MFA's Africa Department, our interlocutors were cooperative
and appear to understand the importance of the issue. End
comment.
YATES