GHANA ON COTE D'IVOIRE: GROWING FRUSTRATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000263 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017 TAGS: GH IV PGOV PREL SUBJECT: GHANA ON COTE D'IVOIRE: GROWING FRUSTRATION Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.4 d and e. ¶1. (C) On February 1, Ghana's Secretary to the President Ambassador D.K. Osei told Ambassador he was not very optimistic about the prospects for peace in Cote d'Ivoire. He did not discount the possibility that a deal could be struck with President Gbagbo and thought new ECOWAS Chair Blaise Campoare could be key to striking some compromise. Nonetheless, Osei opined that Gbagbo cannot be trusted, adding "I don't believe anything he says." According to Osei, Gbagbo is obsessed with trying to gain respect for himself, through the UN and other bodies, often via highly paid lobbyists. Osei thought the USG and others should deny access to Gbagbo and his representatives/lobbyists until there are elections or some other significant positive development in Cote d'Ivoire. ¶2. (C) On January 30, Deputy Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei-Adjei told visiting AF/W Deputy Director and PolChief "we're so worried about Cote d'Ivoire", which he said could spur arms smuggling and flows of refugees into Ghana. He saw the utility of more aid to Ghana to reinforce its Ivorian border. He noted that Ghana had initially been very involved in seeking a solution to Cote d'Ivoire, with a round of negotiations in Accra. However, he said Ghana was now very frustrated that Gbagbo continues to put his personal interests above the national interest and wants to cling to prerogatives rather than seek a way out of the political deadlock. BRIDGEWATER