AMBASSADOR MEETS GHANA'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002563

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN GH PGOV PREL WTO MCA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS GHANA'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS

REF: SECSTATE 220728


1. (U) Summary: The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nana Akufo-Addo on December 7 and
discussed the Millenium Challenge Account (MCA) proposal,
regional issues, the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong, the Iraqi
elections and Ghana's new seat on the UN Security Council.
End Summary.

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MCA PROGRESS
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2. (U) The Ambassador informed the Minister that a Millenium
Challenge Corporation (MCC) team led by Managing Director
Maureen Harrington was currently visiting Ghana and included
the new country director, Jonathan Bloom. She added that a
new office for MCC would soon open in Accra and that she
planned to do a joint press event with the Government of
Ghana in February or March 2006 to show that Ghana's MCA
proposal was on track.

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LIBERIA'S CHALLENGES
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3. (SBU) Akufo-Addo was upbeat about Liberia's prospects for
democratization and peace under the newly elected president,
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The Minister expressed concern,
however, that the Government of Liberia would be unable to
maintain stability and rebuild the economy without
international assistance. He asked whether the U.S.
government would be in a position to assist Liberia. The
Ambassador recounted A/S Jendayi Frazer's remark that Liberia
cannot fail and suggested that U.S. assistance was likely.

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IVORIAN DISARMAMENT
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4. (SBU) The Minister regarded recent developments in Cote
d'Ivoire in a similarly positive light. The Ambassador
mentioned that she met Cote d'Ivoire's newly appointed
transitional Prime Minister Charles Banny in 2004. Akufo-Addo
spoke highly of Banny's abilities and said that Banny had
been "a big hit" at a recent conference in Bamako.


5. (SBU) The Minister said total disarmament was unlikely in
Cote d'Ivoire but "sufficient disarmament to allow credible
elections" would put the country on the right path. Banny's
central task is, according to Akufo-Addo, achieving peace
with hope for a brighter future.

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WTO ISSUES
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6. (SBU) In discussing the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong,
Akufo-Addo noted that Minister of Trade and Industry Alan
Kyerematen had spoken at length on African nations' stances.
Akufo-Addo called the U.S. government's proposal to eliminate
agricultural tariffs "very, very, very constructive" and
requested more specifics on the timeframe for tariffs to be
eliminated. (Note: The Economics section delivered these
details to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs both prior to this
meeting and subsequently.)

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IRAQI ELECTIONS
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7. (SBU) The Ambassador explained the importance of the
December 15 Iraqi elections and requested that the Government
of Ghana issue a statement of support (per reftel).
Akufo-Addo acknowledged the request but did not commit to any
action.

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UNSC SEAT
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8. (SBU) Akufo-Addo said expanding the UNSC, assisting UN
reforms, and peace efforts in both Cote d'Ivoire and the
Democratic Republic of Congo were the Government of Ghana's
top priorities for the UN. He noted that he led the
successful effort to win consensus within the African Union
for backing permanent UNSC seats for Africa. The Minister
conceded, however, that this consensus later fell apart.
"Divisions that are elsewhere in the world appear to be
resurfacing in Africa," he said.
BRIDGEWATER