GHANA'S RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON SIERRA LEONE

UNCLAS ACCRA 001893 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W AND INR/AA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SL GH SUBJECT: GHANA'S RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON SIERRA LEONE ELECTIONS REF: A. STATE 124246 ¶B. FREETOWN 542 ¶1. (SBU) In response to ref A, on September 6 Charge spoke to D.K. Osei, President Kufuor's Foreign Policy Advisor, to convey USG concerns over tensions surrounding the run-off presidential elections in Sierra Leone, and to seek a statement from President Kufuor in his capacity as head of the African Union. Osei, who took a short break from a cabinet meeting to speak with Charge, noted that a representative from President Kufuor's office had traveled Saturday (September 1) to Freetown with ECOWAS Executive Secretary Mohammed Chambas and the Burkina Faso Foreign SIPDIS Minister. Osei said they had met with representatives of all concerned political parties, and stressed the importance of committing to non-violent campaigning and restraint of party supporters. ¶2. (SBU) Osei also noted that this group had persuaded the candidates to ride in a joint motorcade through Freetown September 6 to visibly demonstrate their commitment to a peaceful democratic process. Osei said he had also spoken with Chambas, who said the delegation was very happy with the results of their discussions and encouraged by the candidates' expressed desire for a peaceful run-off election. Chambas told Osei that the delegation had communicated in strong terms the disastrous repercussions should there be a perception of a lack of impartiality that leads to violence. Osei promised to provide further details after the cabinet adjourned later in the evening, but made no commitment on behalf of President Kufuor to issue a public statement. PERGL