PDAS THOMAS-GREENFIELD MEETS WITH PRESIDENT KUFUOR

UNCLAS ACCRA 001451 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CI GH PREL SO SU SUBJECT: PDAS THOMAS-GREENFIELD MEETS WITH PRESIDENT KUFUOR ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On June 28, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa Linda Thomas-Greenfield and the U.S. SIPDIS delegation to the Africa Union Summit met with Ghanaian President John Kufuor. Kufuor agreed with the USG approach on Sudan but his staff thought the current draft UNSC resolution on Sudan required softening. He reiterated the GOG's commitment of 350 troops to AMISOM. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) Sudan/UNSC Resolution: P/DAS Thomas Greenfield pointed out that the U.S. welcomed the willingness of Ghana and the United Kingdom to co-sponsor the draft UNSC resolution authorizing the hybrid force. P/DAS urged that Ghana as a member of the Security Council and Chair of the AU use its influence to seek buy-in from other African leaders. Kufour agreed with most of the content of the resolution. However, Special Advisor to the Chairman of the African Union Nana Effah Apenteng, who was in the meeting, said he thought some of the resolution required softening. Kufuor was frustrated that neither Rwandan nor Ghanaian troops were being paid. P/DAS and the President agreed that the U.S. and AU are on the same page on Sudan, stressing the need to apply continued pressure on Bashir. ¶4. (SBU) Somalia: Kufour and his Special Senior Advisor on the African Union Lt. General Seth Obeng indicated that Ghana was unable to contribute a full battalion to AMISOM but remained committed to providing 350 troops, who they said are already prepared to deploy with support from the international community. The President agreed to draft a communique to the AU in this regard. ¶5. (SBU) Cote de Ivoire: P/DAS and President Kufuor both expressed satisfaction with the current state of peace in Cote de Ivoire. They agreed the next important step is the voter registration exercise. (Note: we heard reports that morning that there was an unsuccessful attack on Prime Minister Soro's plane. End note.) ¶6. (U) Participants: P/DAS was accompanied to the meeting by: Pamela E. Bridgewater, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana; Cindy ¶L. Courville, U.S. Ambassador to the Africa Union; Captain William S. Couch, Joint Task Force Horn of Africa; Jerry Lanier, Director, Office of Regional Security Affairs for Africa; Lauren Landis, Senior Representative on Sudan, Sudan Programs; and USAID/Ghana, Program Officer and AU Control Officer, Regina Dennis. GOG participants included: Special Advisor to the Chairman of the African Union, Nana Effah Apenteng; MFA Director of African Union Hanson Hall; and Special Senior Advisor to the AU Lt. General Seth Obeng. BRIDGEWATER