AMBASSADOR MEETS GHANA'S MINISTER OF MANPOWER,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000652

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON ELAB GH KWMN PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS GHANA'S MINISTER OF MANPOWER,
YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT

REF: ACCRA 306


1. Summary: In a March 30 meeting with the Ambassador,
Ghana's new Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment Joseph
Adda said he wants to give labor issues more prominence. His
ministry is developing a strategic plan and engaging
constructively with labor unions. The Ambassador raised the
need to pass a trafficking in persons (TIP) law. Adda said
it would pass once parliament returns from recess in May and
that he would explore interim measures to demonstrate the
GOG's seriousness on this issue. End summary.


2. On March 30, Ambassador, USAID Director and PolChief paid
a courtesy call on Ghana's new Minister of Manpower, Youth
and Employment, Joseph Kofi Adda. The Ambassador
congratulated him on his new post and noted the importance we
place on labor, employment and youth issues. USAID Director
expressed USAID's interest in continuing to cooperate with
his ministry in training the National Labor Commission and
through USAID's Trade and Investment Program for a
Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE) project.

Ministry Getting Organized
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3. (U) Adda said the President had elevated his ministry to
Cabinet status, with more resources, in recognition of the
importance of labor and youth issues. He noted institutional
problems in the ministry and the need to create a modern
labor information system to gather and analyze employment
data. Adda is working on a strategic plan for the
manpower/employment sector and plans to do a rapid appraisal
of priority needs. He will be looking for donor support in
this effort, including from the USG. Adda saw the need to
create a labor relations desk in the ministry and expressed a
special interest in youth programs, such as starting
U.S.-style youth marching bands in all districts.

Union Activity
--------------


4. The National Tripartite Commission is active in mediating
labor issues. Adda hoped to strengthen GOG relations with
labor unions, bringing them more into decision making He
pointed to a recent constructive meeting with garment and
textile unions to discuss ways of encouraging the use of
Ghanaian textiles. He had chaired a meeting on March 29 with
about fifty labor activists and union leaders to respond to
concerns about the GOG's recent decision to increase
petroleum prices. This was a bigger group than in past
meetings, and union attendees overcame initial hostility to
gain a better understanding of and even applaud GOG
decisions. He would hold another similar meeting later that
afternoon.

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


5. The Ambassador said she had discussed TIP issues during a
recent meeting with the President, and hoped Ghana would not
lose its Tier 1 status because of its failure to pass an
anti-TIP law. Adda said the GOG was concerned about TIP and
he would make the issue a priority. However, because
parliament was in recess until May 10, it would be impossible
to pass a TIP law by the end of April. During the
parliamentary recess period he would explore actions the GOG
could do without a law, such as issuing a high level policy
statement against TIP and taking administrative steps on the
trafficking issue. There is no longer a conflict between the
Ministries of Women and Children's Affairs and Manpower,
Youth and Employment over leadership on the TIP issue. As a
Member of Parliament himself, he said he did not expect
opposition in parliament to the TIP bill. Once the bill is
presented to parliament, it might be possible to accelerate
passage if the parliamentary leadership sees it as an urgent,
noncontentious matter. Pressure for speedy passage by civil
society organizations could be helpful. Combating
trafficking requires a long term societal approach to reduce
poverty and create employment. His ministry has been looking
at measures to prevent TIP, such as education campaigns.
Adda hoped that Washington would understand that transitions
by new governments are slow periods, during which many
initiatives need to be reviewed and resubmitted for
clearance.

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


6. Adda has an impressive background, including degrees from
Indiana Wesleyan University, Columbia, and the Sorbonne (see
bio reftel). He clearly wants to significantly raise the
profile of his ministry and streamline the bureaucracy. He
will be an ally in getting passage and effective
implementation of a TIP law.


YATES