DEMARCHE ON UN REFORM: GHANA

UNCLAS ACCRA 000163

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ADCO AORC GH KUNR PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON UN REFORM: GHANA

REF: STATE 4746

On January 19, Ambassador and PolChief delivered reftel
demarche on UN reform to Ghanaian Deputy Foreign Minister
Akwasi Osei-Adjei. (Note: the Foreign Minister is out of the
country. End note.) Osei-Adjei agreed that there is a need
to reform the UN to make it more relevant and effective for a
changing world. He opined that there was too much focus on
UN Security Council reform "instead of the real issues" of
making the UN work more effectively. There is a need to look
at the mandates of UN agencies and structures and reduce
inefficiencies, he said. The Ambassador highlighted the need
to ensure an effective UN Human Rights Council which did not
include members whose governments were under UNSC sanctions
for reasons related to human rights abuses. He agreed with
the principle that human rights abusers should not be members
of a such a human rights organization.
BRIDGEWATER