CHARGE DELIVERS UNSC REFORM DEMARCHE: GHANA

1. On July 29, Charge delivered reftel demarche on UNSC
reform to Ghanaian Deputy Foreign Minister Kwesi Osei-Adjei.
(Note: due to the urgency of this issue, Charge met with the
Deputy Foreign Minister rather than the Foreign Minister, who
was not available until August 1. In the past, the Deputy
Foreign Minister has been a reliable interlocutor on this and
other issues, who has the ear of the minister. End note.)
Charge stressed that we cannot support the G-4 proposal, and
that without a broad consensus, UNSC reform will not be
successful. He emphasized the USG's strong position on this
issue.



2. The Deputy Minister responded that Ghana will make its
decisions on UNSC expansion in concert with the African
Union. The AU wants to expand the Security Council to include
two African states to be selected by the AU. Ghana's Foreign
Minister is on the AU committee dealing with UNSC expansion
and Ghana is looking at all options. The GOG is awaiting the
committee's report to see if it recommends an AU mini-summit
before September.



3. When asked whether Ghana would support postponing the
discussion of UNSC expansion rather than pushing for an
immediate vote, Osei-Adjei said he was not sure what the AU
committee will decide on this issue. He add that,
personally, he thought it "will be sad" if the UNSC expansion
issue overshadows other important UN reforms which are being
considered.
LANIER