GENERAL WARD'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT KUFUOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001818

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS MASS GH
SUBJECT: GENERAL WARD'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT KUFUOR

REF: A) ACCRA 1573 (NOTAL) B) ACCRA 1569 (NOTAL)

Classified By: AMB. PAMELA E. BRIDGEWATER FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d).


1. (C) Summary: On August 6, President Kufuor told General
William E. Ward, Deputy Commander of European Command and the
nominee to command Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Ambassador
that the U.S. needs to conduct &lots of diplomacy8
concerning AFRICOM. Kufuor reiterated points reported in ref
A saying that how AFRICOM is established is the most
important issue. Kufuor also asked for assistance to deploy
Ghanaian forces to Somalia, saying that Ghana lacked the
proper equipment and airlift capacity to deploy. Kufuor did
not seem to understand the basic concept of AFRICOM and
remains focused on how AFRICOM will be established, rather
than on its mission. Some of his comments suggested a basic
misunderstanding of AFRICOM's role and indicate that further
USG efforts to explain it will be beneficial. End summary.


2. (C) On August 6, General William E. Ward, Deputy Commander
of European Command (EUCOM) and Presidential Designate for
Africa Command (AFRICOM) accompanied by Ambassador
Bridgewater and EUCOM delegation, met with President John A.
Kufuor to discuss AFRICOM and Africa. Gen. Ward told Kufuor
he wants to continue discussions on how AFRICOM and the
African Union (AU) can work together to increase capabilities
in stabilizing the continent. Ward also pointed toward
Ghana's continuing importance in its leadership role in the
AU, not only through the current chairmanship, but also
through its proven record of leadership in peacekeeping
missions throughout the world. Ward also reminded Kufuor that
AFRICOM is not designed to take the place of other
governmental agencies, but instead will serve as a supporting
force. AFRICOM, Ward said, will support the structures in
which the USG operate through a variety of security-enhancing
ways, to include training and advising programs.


3. (C) President Kufuor, for his part, told General Ward that
it is in both the U.S. and Ghanaian national interest to
cooperate. Peace and stability are central, Kufuor stressed,
saying that both the U.S. and Ghana face similar challenges
in Somalia and Darfur. Switching to AFRICOM, Kufuor said that
he sees a potential for AFRICOM to be a coordinating effort
for the many efforts of the USG across
Ghana, which he said tend to overlap. Kufuor indicated that
he hopes AFRICOM would serve as a central place for
coordinating U.S. policy, adding that he hoped AFRICOM would
make cooperation with the U.S. even easier. General Ward
repeated to Kufuor that the Country Team in each nation would
still have the lead on all bilateral issues, with AFRICOM
serving in a supporting capacity.


4. (C) Kufuor added that AFRICOM might cause suspicion among
Africans. Many observers, Kufuor said, fear an effort to
recolonize Africa is afoot. AFRICOM, Kufuor stressed, needs
&lots of diplomacy8 in order for it to be received properly
and added that a lot of groundwork remains to be covered.
The most important issue at this point is how AFRICOM is
established. Kufuor also expressed concern that others in
Africa view Ghana as a &U.S. base.8 This is problematic, he
said, and we must work together to avoid such misconceptions.
He welcomed AFRICOM engagement with the AU, saying that the
AU has consistently told its members not to have specific
bilateral relationships with countries outside of Africa.
Close consultation with the AU on the physical location of
AFRICOM is important, according to Kufuor.

Ghanaian and AU Troop Deployments
--------------


5. (C) Regarding troop deployments, Kufuor told Gen. Ward
that the AU has made appeals to the UN Security Council
(UNSC) to enable African nations to resolve the situations in
Somalia and Sudan. Kufuor solicited more assistance for both
the AU and the UN and Ward made it clear that the U.S. does
support peacekeeping operations through the UN. On Darfur,
Kufuor said that it appears to be &shaping up,8
particularly since Sudan has agreed to the hybrid force. He
also recommended that the U.S. encourage France to do more on
border security in Chad. On Somalia, Kufuor said that 300
troops are &standing by8, but the airlift and lack of
equipment hinder a quick deployment. Kufuor said that he
would like assistance in arranging for equipment and an
airlift for these troops.


6. (C) Kufuor went on to say that while Ghana is currently
contributing troops to various missions, more resources are
needed before additional deployments can be made. Ghana,s
military, Kufuor said, is &fully stretched.8 He pointed to
the ongoing missions in Congo, Lebanon, Cote d,Ivoire and

ACCRA 00001818 002 OF 002


Liberia as evidence that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) are
exhausted, adding that GAF troops have been in the Congo from
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possibility of South Africa,s supplying some logistical
support, but Kufuor said he did not believe that South
African assistance would be possible. He said that it is not
easy to call on other countries in Africa for military
assistance, saying that South Africa is really the only
country in Sub-Saharan Africa who could possibly help. He was
also dismissive of North African countries, saying that they
are not reliable partners.


7. (C) Comment: Kufuor,s statements are not new and were
reflected in refs A and B. He seems to be concerned more with
how AFRICOM will be established than on its potential mission
in Africa, and indicated that he thought AFRICOM would take
the lead on USG policy toward Africa. These comments suggest
a basic misunderstanding of AFRICOM's role, and indicate that
further USG efforts to explain this will be beneficial. End
comment.


8. (U) Cleared by EUCOM POLAD Mary C. Yates.
BRIDGEWATER