AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH KUMASI REGIONAL MINISTER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002662

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR GH
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH KUMASI REGIONAL MINISTER

REF: ACCRA 2549 AND PREVIOUS


1. (U) SUMMARY: Ashanti Regional Minister Emmanuel Owusu-
Ansah told the Ambassador during an October 25 meeting
that he is committed to a secure and drug-free Ashanti
region. Ansah requested Embassy assistance in training
community policemen to deter petty crime and in setting
up an export program for Kente cloth, possibly through
the provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act
(AGOA). End Summary.

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ANSAH: NARCO-TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONS UNTRUE
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2. (U) The Ambassador, accompanied by PolChief and
Econoff, met with Ashanti Regional Minister Emmanuel
Asamoa Owusu-Ansah on October 25 during a visit to
Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti Region and Ghana?s second
largest city. Ansah, who formerly served as Deputy
Attorney General and Minister of Justice until his re-
appointment in May, also represents the Kwabre West
Constituency in the Ashanti Region as a Member of
Parliament. As capital of the Ashanti Region, Kumasi is
home to the Asantehene (King of the Asante, aka Ashanti)
and is considered by many Ghanaians to be the cultural
heart of Ghana.


3. (SBU) Referring to allegations linking the Asantehene
to narcotics trafficking that surfaced during the course
of the Justice Georgina Wood Committee?s investigation
into Ghana?s narcotics scandal (reported reftels),Ansah
said it was unfortunate that someone would start a smear
campaign against the Asantehene. Ansah said that while
he believed the Asantehene is innocent, he did not
support the verbal attacks and threats that some pro-
Asante groups in Kumasi have made toward journalists
pursuing the allegations. (Note: members of the Asante
Youth Association and the Asante United Front, both
pressure groups in Kumasi, threatened to ?eliminate? four
journalists they accused of being disrespectful to the
Asantehene. End Note.)


4. (SBU) The Ambassador stressed the need for preventing
violence and unrest and suggested that Ansah and other
community leaders engage the agitated youth in dialogue.
Ansah told the Ambassador he has seen no other evidence
of narcotics trafficking or drug problems in his region.
Ansah affirmed his commitment to combat violence and
narco-trafficking in his region, adding, ?We appreciate
our freedom; we have come a long way and we are not going
to throw it away.?


5. (SBU) Comment: Government silence in responding to
threats made against the journalists suggests that the
GOG is selective on threats against the media and affirms
the widespread perception by non-Ashantis that the
Asantehene and those who speak in his defense are above
the law. Given that less violent threats from opposition
supporters in the recent past resulted in criminal
prosecutions, police inaction in this case may encourage
a sense of impunity for Asantehene supporters. End
Comment.

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YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND CRIME REDUCTION
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6. (U) Ansah attributed the increase in petty crimes in
his region, such as cell phone thefts, to the influx of
neighboring West African immigrants, who bring with them
different lifestyles. He acknowledged that the decline
of the ?traditional Ghanaian lifestyle? had also
contributed to this problem, and suggested that the
answer to reducing crime is more youth employment. In
response to Ansah?s request for possible Embassy
assistance in training youth as neighborhood watchmen,
PolChief noted that the Embassy sponsored a police
training workshop in Kumasi a few years ago, after which
police officers were given bicycles to assist in
conducting community patrols.

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AGOA AND KENTE CLOTH
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7. (U) Responding to Ansah?s expression of interest in
developing a U.S. market for Ghana?s indigenous kente
cloth, the Ambassador reminded Ansah of the advantages of
exporting kente to the United States under the African

ACCRA 00002662 002 OF 002


Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The Ambassador
referred Ansah to the Embassy?s Commercial Attache to
explore the topic further.

BRIDGEWATER