PRESIDENT KUFUOR AS AU CHAIR: A FIRST TAKE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000227 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2017 TAGS: AORC GH PGOV PREL SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KUFUOR AS AU CHAIR: A FIRST TAKE Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.4 d and e. ¶1. (C) Summary: Ghanaians view President John Kufuor's selection as AU chair as a recognition of the country's African leadership role, democratic credentials, and status as the first independent country on the continent. Kufuor will use his low-key, positive leadership style to tackle African conflicts and strengthen democracy. In Ghana's Jubilee year, he no doubt also hopes his new role will boost his party and his personal legacy. End summary. ¶2. (U) Returning to Ghana on January 31 after being named AU Chair, President John Kufuor told the press he had been selected in recognition of Ghana's pioneering role in the independence struggle and its African leadership role. Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo later told the press that the AU decision was based on four factors: Kufuor's performance as ECOWAS Chairman, his leadership in promoting human rights, good governance and self respect in Africa, Ghana's contribution to UN peacekeeping, and in honor of Ghana's Golden Jubilee as the first independent African state. ¶3. (C) In a January 30 meeting with visiting AF/W Deputy Director and PolChief, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Akwasi Osei-Adjei said as AU Chair Kufuor would reflect "an African agenda". He would champion democracy and would encourage African nations to accept NEPAD and its African Peer Review Mechanism. "The old ways are over," Osei-Adjei stated, adding that Africa cannot afford one-party states and must build greater tolerance for differences. As AU Chair, Ghana would work to reduce conflicts, and promote peace and development in Africa, he said. When asked how the MFA would manage its AU duties, in addition to UN Security Council responsibilities, Osei-Adjei responded that Ghana had a competent staff at the AU in Addis that could handle this. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Secretary to the President Ambassador D.K. Osei told Ambassador February 1 that President Kufuor was feeling "very good and very committed" to his AU chairmanship, although it would be a lot more work for him. There is no doubt this selection is a big coup for Kufuor as he prepares to celebrate Ghana's 50th anniversary in March and as he shapes his legacy for the last two years of his presidency. While genuinely committed to promoting democracy and development in Africa, he also no doubt hopes this additional role will boost the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and his position in the party in the run-up to 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections. His new role will also stretch his energies in a year which already includes many major national events, including the Jubilee, AGOA Forum, and AU summit in Accra. It remains to be seen how he well he -- and his sometimes organizationally weak government -- can juggle all of this. ¶5. (C) Expectations are high in Ghana. As reported in Ghana's major newspaper The Graphic, a sampling of senior Ghanaian political observers identified the following to be Kufuor's main challenges as AU Chair: helping resolve conflicts in Darfur, Somalia, Guinea, and Cote d'Ivoire, and helping strengthen and better integrate African economies. There is no shortage of challenges - as reported septels, Kufuor has already begun to engage on Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire. We expect as AU Chair that Kufuor will assume a low-key, but positive leadership role, as he did as ECOWAS chair, drawing on input from key regional leaders on issues such as conflict mitigation and resolution. While recognizing national sovereignty, Kufuor will be an advocate for human rights, democracy, good governance and cooperation with international partners. BRIDGEWATER