Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ACCRA306
2005-02-11 07:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

DCM MEETS MINISTER-DESIGNATE OF EMPLOYMENT, YOUTH,

Tags:  ELAB GH KTIA KWMN PHUM 
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110702Z Feb 05
UNCLAS ACCRA 000306 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB GH KTIA KWMN PHUM
SUBJECT: DCM MEETS MINISTER-DESIGNATE OF EMPLOYMENT, YOUTH,
AND MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT TO DISCUSS ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN
PERSONS LEGISLATION


UNCLAS ACCRA 000306

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB GH KTIA KWMN PHUM
SUBJECT: DCM MEETS MINISTER-DESIGNATE OF EMPLOYMENT, YOUTH,
AND MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT TO DISCUSS ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN
PERSONS LEGISLATION



1. Summary: DCM and Poloff called on Minister-Designate of
Employment, Youth, and Manpower Development Joseph Kofi Adda
on February 10 to highlighted our interest in Ghana's passage
of an anti-trafficking law. Adda said that Ghana intended to
enact the law but it would take some time for the cabinet to
introduce legislation before parliament. End Summary.

Trafficking in Persons
--------------


2. DCM explained our trafficking in persons (TIP) report to
Adda and noted that Ghana was the only sub-Saharan African
state on Tier 1; however, Ghana would probably not remain on
Tier 1 unless it passed anti-trafficking legislation. Adda
responded that the GOG had the best of intentions but it
would take some time for the cabinet to discuss the proposed
legislation and present a bill to parliament. Because of the
government is very new, Atta could not promise passage during
this session of parliament, although he would personally push
it.

Training Issues
--------------


3. Adda went on to note that much of the GOG bureaucracy
required further training. He expressed gratitude for the
many USG programs that have helped to upgrade skills but
commented that his own ministry was in need of an overhaul,
as it lacked computers and a solid database. DCM commented
that while many of Ghana's present leaders were trained by
those who still had a pan-African socialist orientation, the
country had made a good transition to being a free-market
democratic state.

Labor Relations: A New Paradigm
--------------


4. Adda expressed concern over obstacles to foreign
investment. Toward that end, he envisioned regular meetings
with organized labor, business, and his ministry that would
lead to continual dialogue and problem resolution at an early
stage. Another key component of his pro-investor strategy
was to better train his staff of arbiters so that they could
mediate industrial disputes effectively and avert crises.
Adda was proud that he had previously spearheaded budgetary
reform and strengthened internal audits.

Comment
--------------


5. Adda was friendly and forthcoming. He has been vetted by
parliament and expects to be sworn in as minister in the next
few days. We were encouraged that he is willing to push for
passage of a TIP bill.

Bio
---


6. Joseph Kofi Adda (48) was a management consultant, with a
B.Sc. in Economics and Political Science from Indiana
Wesleyan University (1979-82),a certificate in French
Language and Civilization from Sorbonne University, Paris,
and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia
University, New York (1982-84).

An ethnic Kassena, Adda is from Upper East Region, where he
has represented the Navrongo Central constituency in
parliament since 2003. In parliament he has served on four
committees: Privileges; Finance; Agriculture, Food and Cocoa
Affairs; and Trade, Industry and Tourism.

In Ghana Adda has worked as Director at Omni Consulting
International, as Technical Advisor for Financial Reforms at
the Ministry of Finance (1999-2000),and as Project Manager
for the Public Financial Management Reform Program (1996-98).

While in New York Adda worked as Principal Consultant for
Macro-Anayltic Consulting (1989-91),Securities Analyst at
Thomson McKinnon Securities (1986-88),and Research Analyst
at Third World Trade Institute (1983-84).

He is married with two children.
YATES