Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ACCRA413
2006-02-15 11:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

GHANA: SECGEN SELECTION AND UNESCO CONVENTION

Tags:  ETRD SCUL GH UNESCO 
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UNCLAS ACCRA 000413 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD SCUL GH UNESCO
SUBJECT: GHANA: SECGEN SELECTION AND UNESCO CONVENTION
UPDATE

REF: A. STATE 22833


B. STATE 019851

C. STATE 00355

UNCLAS ACCRA 000413

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD SCUL GH UNESCO
SUBJECT: GHANA: SECGEN SELECTION AND UNESCO CONVENTION
UPDATE

REF: A. STATE 22833


B. STATE 019851

C. STATE 00355


1. (SBU) Summary: Per reftel A, on February 14, MFA Acting
Director of International Organizations Edwin Adjei told
PolOff that the Government of Ghana (GOG) has not seen any
African candidate emerge for UN Secretary General and has no
favorite at this time. Also, the GOG is not poised to ratify
he UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity any time soon. End
summary.

--------------
ANNAN'S SUCCESSOR
--------------

2. (SBU) PolOff explained to Adjei that the USG is open to
Asian candidates but believes Annan's successor should be
selected based on the ability to lead and reform the UN
effectively, not geographical rotation. Adjei said the GOG is
aware of candidates to succeed Annan from South Korea,
Thailand and Sri Lanka. (Note: Reputed SecGen candidate,
South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon, visited Ghana in
late January. End note.) Adjei also said the GOG has not
been approached by any diplomatic missions regarding any
Brazilian candidate. (Note: Brazilian President Da Silva
visited West Africa, including Ghana, in 2005 while
campaigning for a UN Security Council. He visited Benin in
February. End note.) He said the succession was not discussed
at the African Union's recent meeting in Khartoum.


3. (SBU) Following this meeting, PolOff saw Nana Bema Kumi,
recently appointed Ghana's Ambassador to Belgium, who
previously served as the Supervising Director of the
Multilateral, Legal and Passports Department. Kumi is
well-versed in the UN's geographical rotation tradition, and
she suggested, "Academically, it should be Western Europe's
turn." (Note: It was unclear if Kumi will have any role in
determining the GOG's candidate. End note.)

--------------
UNESCO CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION
--------------


4. (SBU) Adjei said the MFA only recently realized that the
GOG is required to ratify the Convention and that the
Ministry of Justice would have to draft legislation before
this process could move ahead. However, he knew of no plans
to draft such legislation and indicated the issue had not
been given any priority.


5. (U) The Convention does not appear on any parliamentary
agendas, is not slated for any legislative action, and has
not received any significant press coverage or public debate
in Ghana.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------

6. (SBU) Ghana's Ministry of Justice has a poor record of
drafting legislation in a timely manner, even when the GOG is
committed to passing it. During one of three parliamentary
sessions in 2005, parliament did not move on any
non-budgetary legislation. The parliamentary majority is
currently focused on the controversial Representation of the
People bill (see reftel C),and the minority is boycotting
the proceedings. It is unlikely any additional significant
legislation will move forward in the near term, and
international conventions with no domestic constituencies are
low priorities in Ghana. We do not recommend a public
diplomacy campaign here because it would only raise the
profile of a convention that is not likely to be ratified any
time soon.

--------------
BIO NOTE
--------------

7. (SBU) Ambassasdor Kumi is clearly excited about her new
role and said she was chosen because of her French ability
and experience in multilateral affairs. She said she was
offered a position at Ghana's Mission to the United Nations
in New York but turned it down as she had served there before
and preferred to handle European Union affairs.)
BRIDGEWATER