Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ACCRA2378
2004-12-06 10:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

MUSLIM OUTREACH - WRAP UP OF RAMADAN EVENTS

Tags:  KPAO PREL GH 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002378 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR AF/W DESK OFFICER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL GH
SUBJECT: MUSLIM OUTREACH - WRAP UP OF RAMADAN EVENTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002378

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR AF/W DESK OFFICER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL GH
SUBJECT: MUSLIM OUTREACH - WRAP UP OF RAMADAN EVENTS


1. (U) Summary. U.S. Mission Accra sponsored a series of
events during the recent Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The
Ramadan program began with an Iftaar dinner hosted by
Ambassador Mary Carlin Yates, attended by the Vice President
of Ghana and all of the major Muslim leadership figures in
Accra. Emboffs hosted separate Iftaars in Accra for the
leadership of the various sects. The Embassy organized a
number of food donations in underprivileged majority Muslim
neighborhoods in Accra, nearby Tema and in Kumasi. Soccer
tournaments for Muslim youth were held in Accra and Kumasi,
as well as an Iftaar for Muslim religious leaders and chiefs
of the Ashanti region, attended by the Regional Minister.
The Deputy Chief of Mission and other embassy officers made
courtesy calls on senior Muslim leaders during the course of
the month, and presented book donations to Muslim-run
schools in poor neighborhoods. The Muslim community greeted
these events enthusiastically and saw to it that they
received wide media coverage. End summary.


2. (U) Ambassador Yates's Iftaar dinner on October 25
brought together the heads of each of the major Islamic
sects in Ghana, itself an uncommon occurrence, along with
the Mission's Muslim contacts in government and academia.
Ghana Vice President Aliu Mahama, joined the Imams at the
Ambassador's head table and gave an impromptu speech to the
guests, stressing the importance of America's friendship
with Ghanaian Muslims. The Ambassador used the event to
announce the awarding of a Department of Defense grant to
fund an office building for Accra's Islamic Education Unit,
an agency responsible for integrating traditional religious
schools into Ghana's secular system. Ambassador Yates, in
welcoming remarks, also reviewed the Mission's Muslim
outreach activities over the past year and outlined plans
for the coming year. The Public Affairs Officer traveled to
Kumasi, Ghana's second city, with a large Muslim population,
to represent the embassy at another Iftaar celebration,
attended by the Ashanti region Islamic leaders, Muslim
chiefs and the top government official, the Regional
Minister.


3. (U) The embassy sponsored major food donations to poor
communities in Accra and Kumasi that were organized with
religious leaders and Muslim chiefs at ceremonies attended
by the DCM and other mission officers. Another donation was

co-sponsored with the students association at the Islamic
University, near Accra. The food was distributed through
mosques in neighborhoods of Accra, Tema and Kumasi. The DCM
used the Accra event to let the audiences know that
Americans were aware of the importance of Ramadan, with
particular emphasis being put on care for the less fortunate
members of society during the holy month. Post hopes to
follow up with a food donation to Muslims in Tamale.


4. (U) With Eid el Fitr marking the end of Ramadan, the
embassy, working with Muslim NGOs, sponsored a soccer
tournament for Muslim youth from the greater Accra municipal
area. Sixteen teams participated to play for a trophy and
prizes. A similar soccer tournament was held for teams in
Kumasi. The DCM kicked off the ball for the final match and
awarded the prizes. Parliamentarians, local government
officials and Ministry of Sports officials attended the
games. These leaders expressed their appreciation for the
embassy's contribution to positive activities for young
people, many of whom are from the poorest and least
developed urban areas in and around Ghana's capital city.


5. (U) On a less public scale, embassy officers reinforced
their contacts with Muslim leaders through a series of
courtesy calls during the course of the month of Ramadan.
These informal get-togethers permit post officers to learn
about the concerns of the Muslim community and to express to
the leadership American attitudes of religious tolerance and
interest in seeing Muslims participate in the development of
their country. These included calls on the National Chief
Imam and the Chief of the Zongo community in Kumasi. In
some instances, the Public Affairs Section accompanied the
visits with book donations to schools affiliated with the
various Muslim sects.


6. (U) Ramadan is the logical time to intensify Mission
cooperation with the Muslim community of Ghana, but post
hopes to organize other activities throughout the year. For
example, as occurred last year, the embassy will sponsor a
radio and TV quiz program for Muslim tertiary students, with
prizes to the school of the winning team. At the next major
Muslim holiday, Eid el Adha, in January, the Mission will
make the traditional presentation of a ram to the National
Chief Imam. At this time, post also expects to organize
similar events in Tamale, the main city in Ghana's Northern
Region, which has a large Muslim population. PolChief was
one of only three diplomats attending the national
conference to launch Ramadan, which was positively received
by the Muslim community. Media coverage of these events has
been quite good and public awareness of post's efforts at
outreach to Ghana's Muslims is at a high level. The embassy
is regularly being contacted by Muslim organizations,
including some of the most conservative, to learn more about
how they can participate in these programs.


7. (SBU) Comment: While it is difficult to quantify the
impact of these programs, anecdotally post has had responses
from Muslim leaders indicating that they much appreciate the
Mission's outreach, which they view as exhibiting our
country's respect for their religion and their local
institutions. In some instances, fundamentalist Imams with
negative and suspicious attitudes toward the United States
have softened their language and sought to learn more about
American policies and values. This has been evidenced by
reports of "before and after" preaching before congregations
and by invitations to visit mosques extended to Emboffs.
Recently, the bimonthly magazine published by the largest
conservative sect included an article on the role of
religion in the U.S. elections and a feature article with a
photo of post PAO speaking to the group's leadership on the
importance of education for Muslim youth. These
interactions, and there are numerous similar examples of
effectiveness, often reflect the personal relationships that
a number of post officers have developed with Ghana's Muslim
leaders. They also reinforce the notion that in a
traditional culture there typically is no better way to
cement bonds than by dedicating many hours to face-to-face
discussions, on a small and personal scale. End comment.

YATES