POST LOBBIES GOG ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS LAW

UNCLAS ACCRA 000504

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GH KWMN PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: POST LOBBIES GOG ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS LAW

REF: A. ACCRA 364


B. ACCRA 7869

C. ACCRA 302

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, HANDLE ACCORDINGLY


1. (U) Summary: Over the past three weeks -- in meetings
with the President, the Speaker of Parliament, and others --
post has continued to urge the Government of Ghana to pass a
trafficking in persons (TIP) bill. There is a reasonable
chance the bill will go to parliament by the end of April.
End summary.


2. (U) In a February 18 meeting with Leslie Christian,
Supervising Director of Political and Economic Affairs at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PolChief discussed Ghana's
trafficking in persons (TIP) situation. PolChief highlighted
Ghana's status as the only Tier 1 country in sub-Saharan
Africa but noted that this could be jeopardized if Ghana does
not pass a TIP law by April. Christian said he would share
this information with others in the MFA.


3. (U) On March 4, Ambassador used a courtesy call with new
Speaker of Parliament Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes to urge
parliament to pass a trafficking in persons (TIP) law once
the GOG submits it to parliament. The Ambassador explained
the possible consequences of not passing a TIP bill soon.
Hughes agreed to give the bill "appropriate attention."
PolChief gave Deputy Speaker Freddie Blay a backgrounder on
our TIP legislation and Tier system.


4. (U) On March 8, PolChief raise the TIP bill with both
the incoming and outgoing Chief Directors of the Ministry of
Women and Children's Affairs. They said the Attorney
General's office is preparing the bill for submission to
Cabinet and that there was still a lack of clarity as to
whether the Ministry of Women and Children or the Ministry of
Manpower would take the lead on implementation. Several NGOs
working on TIP issues told PolChief they are also pushing the
GOG for passage of the bill and are hopeful it will go to
parliament by the end of April.


5. (SBU) On March 9, in a meeting with President John
Kufuor, the Ambassador urged him to help facilitate passage
of the TIP law by the end of April so that Ghana would not
lose its unique Tier One status. Kufuor said "we will do it,
we will not delay", but he also seemed skeptical with the
heavy legislative agenda that it would occur in April.
Presidential Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani said it would be
difficult for parliament to pass the bill before the end of
April, at the earliest, since this parliamentary session has
almost ended (parliament will be in recess from March
29-April 29). Kufuor agreed, noting that the earliest
possible passage was late April. He asked what we could do
to push back our deadline and the Ambassador responded that
this review was annual and worldwide, implying not much
flexibility.


6. (SBU) Comment: These meetings, as well as our recent
meetings with the Minister of Justice, Minister of
Employment, Youth and Manpower Development, and Minister of
Women and Children's Affairs (reftels),have left a clear
message with the GOG that passage of the TIP legislation is a
top USG priority in Ghana. Cabinet has not met for several
weeks which, together with the recently submitted budget,
have delayed moving the TIP bill to parliament. We will keep
pushing the TIP issue and are hopeful this uncontroversial
bill will make it to parliament, and possibly be passed into
law, by the end of April.






YATES