AMBASSADOR MEETS BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER TO GHANA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000256

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016
TAGS: ECON GH PGOV PREL PTER UK
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER TO GHANA


Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.5 d and e.


1. (U) Summary: On January 24, Ambassador paid a courtesy
call on British High Commissioner Gordon Wetherell. They
discussed corruption in Ghana, Muslim outreach and the Ghana
Poverty Reduction Strategy. End summary.

Corruption
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2. (C) The Ambassador expressed concerns about perception
of rising corruption. Wetherell agreed with the Ambassador
that there is corruption in Ghana and that some politicians
are using corrupt means to get rich while they are still in
power, including some officials in the Castle. However,
there was no firm evidence that corruption in Ghana is
increasing (in fact it appeared to be declining) or that
corruption was large scale, he opined. The stir about
kickbacks to the Castle which dominated the media before the
ruling NPP party's recent convention was typical political
"mud slinging" which quieted down after the convention. The
Asantehene, the Ashanti King, told the President that he
needs to do more to tackle the perception of corruption.
Before Christmas, Wetherell raised the corruption issue with
President Kufuor, who responded that those with evidence
should come forward. The President refused to agree to a
stadium deal he thought was too expensive, instead seeking
out a cheaper tender from the Chinese. The President was
very angry when the losing company (which had some U.S. and
U.K. involvement) sought to bid on subsequent related
contracts, according to Wetherell. (Note: Post reported on
this deal in Accra 2619, December 30, 2005. End note.)

MuslimOutreach
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3. (C) The British re reachig out to Ghanaian Muslims. A
British mam recently visited Ghana, while a visiting Membe
of Parliament called on the National Chief Imam during Eid.
The British also fund small self-help projects, some of which
go to Muslim communities. Most Ghanaian Muslims are
moderate, although there are some radical elements, Wetherell
said. The GOG kept track of radical Islamic preachers from
abroad who come to Ghana but Wetherell wondered if they
tracked Ghanaian students who returned from Islamic studies
in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East.

GPRS
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4. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that Senior Minister J.H.
Mensah told her earlier the same day that the second Ghana
Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II) was completed and
required no more attention. Wetherell said this was also the
conclusion of donors. It did not make sense to focus so much
time on the GPRS any more - the few GOG officials involved
have better ways to use their time. Ghana should adopt a
rolling annual review process.

Comment
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5. (C) This meeting was consistent with other discussions
we have had with Wetherell and other British diplomats. It
is clear the UK is rosy about Ghana. We are more concerned
about corruption and the GPRS than our colleagues but we are
working together and with similar perspectives on Muslim
outreach and counterterrorism.

BRIDGEWATER