Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ACCRA485
2007-03-01 19:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

GHANA ON GUINEA: OSEI SAYS MUST FIND FACE-SAVING

Tags:  GH GV PGOV PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2290
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #0485 0601904
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011904Z MAR 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3854
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000485 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017
TAGS: GH GV PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: GHANA ON GUINEA: OSEI SAYS MUST FIND FACE-SAVING
WAY OUT FOR CONTE


Classified By: Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater for reasons 1.4 d and e
.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000485

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017
TAGS: GH GV PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: GHANA ON GUINEA: OSEI SAYS MUST FIND FACE-SAVING
WAY OUT FOR CONTE


Classified By: Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater for reasons 1.4 d and e
.


1. (C) On February 22, Ambassador had a lengthy discussion
with Secretary to the President Ambassador D.K. Osei about
Guinea. Osei underscored the need to get trade unions into
the negotiations to select a list of 3-4 potential candidates
for prime minister that President Conte could accept. Sierra
Leonean President Kabbah and Liberian President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf had traveled to Guinea to negotiate with the
trade union leadership, Osei said. If the choice of prime
minister is good Conte could demit office in a face-saving
way in what Osei called a "psuedo-legal transition." Osei
hoped the new Prime Minister could appoint a Government of
National Unity sufficiently independent of Conte to ensure he
could not control elections. (Note: a new PM has since been
named. End comment.)


2. (C) Osei depicted Conte as "a crazy man" who had stashed
away lots of money which he was convinced he could use to buy
the loyalty of the military. Ambassador querried Osei about
the continuing influence of Aisha Conneh, the Guinean wife of
LURD Chairman Sekou Conneh. Osei said she has a "big-time"
influence on Conte, asserting that Conte trusts her
completely and that political negotiators in Guinea must
engage her, include her in the equation, and guarantee her
security if there is to be a winning formula.


3. (C) Osei was clear that President Kufuor would have "no
direct discussions" with Conte to get Conte to step down.
(Note: Ambassador had ealier urged Kufuor's direct
intervention. End note.) Kufuor would work through
sub-regional organizations (especially ECOWAS). Burkina
Faso's President Compaore wants to succeed as head of ECOWAS
and could have a significant impact on Conte if he is
actively engaged, according to Osei.


4. (C) Comment: Osei was unusually focused during this
meeting on Guinea, ensuring no outside disturbances and not
answering his numerous cell phones. He clearly was engaged
and knowledgeable, insisting on the need to find a
face-saving solution for Conte, whom he repeatedly
characterized as "crazy." Kufuor's approach to Guinea is
typical -- he prefers a low-key role, working through
multilateral institutions. We can expect this will be the
pattern of his engagement on Guinea and on other issues as AU
Chair.
BRIDGEWATER