Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ACCRA78
2008-01-14 17:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Accra
Cable title:
KUFUOR SACKS MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXRO1695 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHAR #0078 0141738 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141738Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5969 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 0044 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000078
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL GH
SUBJECT: KUFUOR SACKS MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY
REF: ACCRA 1962
Classified By: AMBASSADOR PAMELA E. BRIDGEWATER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND
(D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000078
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL GH
SUBJECT: KUFUOR SACKS MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY
REF: ACCRA 1962
Classified By: AMBASSADOR PAMELA E. BRIDGEWATER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND
(D).
1. (C) On January 12, President Kufuor fired Minister of
National Security Francis Poku, who had served as Ghana's
National Security Coordinator since 2002 and Minister of
National Security since 2006. According to sources, the
final straw in the tense relationship between Kufuor and Poku
was Poku's sending Brigadier Saki, head of Ghana Military
Intelligence, to Israel in December 2007 on a liaison trip,
unbeknownst to Kufuor. Following this trip, Saki prepared a
trip report which ended up in the hands of J.K. Mensah, the
Director of the Research Department at the MFA. Mensah, who
allegedly felt passed over in 2006 when Poku was appointed
Minister, shared the report with Kufuor. Kufuor, according
to sources, was upset about the trip to Israel because Poku
had not informed him about it. Calling Poku to task on
Saturday morning in front of Yaw Gyimah, Deputy Commissioner
of Police and Frank Adu Poku, Head of Ghana Police's Criminal
Investigations Department, Kufuor asked Poku why he had not
been informed of the mission to Israel. Poku allegedly told
Kufuor that he was "on a need to know basis" and that the
mission was part of his duties as Minister. Kufuor became
more upset with Poku after these statements and asked for his
resignation. When Poku refused to resign, Kufuor sacked him.
2. (C) COMMENT: Poku generated many enemies during his time
as Minister. Mensah, of the MFA, felt passed over when Poku
was named Minister in 2006. The Ghana Police had their own
problems with Poku as did the Bureau of National
Investigations (BNI). Poku was also implicated by some
parties in the 2006 cocaine scandals and some alleged that he
regularly received money from former Assistant Commissioner
of Police Kofi Boakye, who was also implicated in the
scandals. Kufuor was also allegedly upset with Poku for his
failure to share the full details of BNI's election polling
(ref A) which could have potentially informed Kufuor earlier
about Alan Kyerematen's lack of popular support. Kufuor was
surprised and embarrassed when Kyerematen lost the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) nomination in December 2007, according
to sources. Poku's favorite for the NPP nomination was
former Finance Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo. It is unclear at
this point who will succeed Poku as Minister although both
Dr. Sam Amoo, the current National Security Coordinator and
J.K. Mensah at the MFA have been suggested as possible
replacements. It is also quite possible that the position,
only created in 2006, could remain empty for Kufuor's final
year in office. It is too early to tell what effect Poku's
sacking will have on the GOG, however we expect security
cooperation to remain strong. As for Poku, he will likely be
fine as sources have told us that he has benefitted from his
time in office and has amassed considerable wealth.
BRIDGEWATER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL GH
SUBJECT: KUFUOR SACKS MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY
REF: ACCRA 1962
Classified By: AMBASSADOR PAMELA E. BRIDGEWATER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND
(D).
1. (C) On January 12, President Kufuor fired Minister of
National Security Francis Poku, who had served as Ghana's
National Security Coordinator since 2002 and Minister of
National Security since 2006. According to sources, the
final straw in the tense relationship between Kufuor and Poku
was Poku's sending Brigadier Saki, head of Ghana Military
Intelligence, to Israel in December 2007 on a liaison trip,
unbeknownst to Kufuor. Following this trip, Saki prepared a
trip report which ended up in the hands of J.K. Mensah, the
Director of the Research Department at the MFA. Mensah, who
allegedly felt passed over in 2006 when Poku was appointed
Minister, shared the report with Kufuor. Kufuor, according
to sources, was upset about the trip to Israel because Poku
had not informed him about it. Calling Poku to task on
Saturday morning in front of Yaw Gyimah, Deputy Commissioner
of Police and Frank Adu Poku, Head of Ghana Police's Criminal
Investigations Department, Kufuor asked Poku why he had not
been informed of the mission to Israel. Poku allegedly told
Kufuor that he was "on a need to know basis" and that the
mission was part of his duties as Minister. Kufuor became
more upset with Poku after these statements and asked for his
resignation. When Poku refused to resign, Kufuor sacked him.
2. (C) COMMENT: Poku generated many enemies during his time
as Minister. Mensah, of the MFA, felt passed over when Poku
was named Minister in 2006. The Ghana Police had their own
problems with Poku as did the Bureau of National
Investigations (BNI). Poku was also implicated by some
parties in the 2006 cocaine scandals and some alleged that he
regularly received money from former Assistant Commissioner
of Police Kofi Boakye, who was also implicated in the
scandals. Kufuor was also allegedly upset with Poku for his
failure to share the full details of BNI's election polling
(ref A) which could have potentially informed Kufuor earlier
about Alan Kyerematen's lack of popular support. Kufuor was
surprised and embarrassed when Kyerematen lost the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) nomination in December 2007, according
to sources. Poku's favorite for the NPP nomination was
former Finance Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo. It is unclear at
this point who will succeed Poku as Minister although both
Dr. Sam Amoo, the current National Security Coordinator and
J.K. Mensah at the MFA have been suggested as possible
replacements. It is also quite possible that the position,
only created in 2006, could remain empty for Kufuor's final
year in office. It is too early to tell what effect Poku's
sacking will have on the GOG, however we expect security
cooperation to remain strong. As for Poku, he will likely be
fine as sources have told us that he has benefitted from his
time in office and has amassed considerable wealth.
BRIDGEWATER