Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08FREETOWN182
2008-04-15 15:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Freetown
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR PERRY CALLS ON MINISTER OF PRESIDENTIAL

Tags:  PREL PGOV SL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8011
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0182 1061504
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 151504Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1856
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000182 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS WEST AFRICA REGIONAL
DIRECTOR MCKOY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PERRY CALLS ON MINISTER OF PRESIDENTIAL
AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

REF: FREETOWN 80

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000182

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS WEST AFRICA REGIONAL
DIRECTOR MCKOY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PERRY CALLS ON MINISTER OF PRESIDENTIAL
AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

REF: FREETOWN 80

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (U) SUMMARY: Ambassador Perry recently paid a courtesy
call on the Minister for Presidential and Public Affairs
Alhaji Alpha Kanu at State House, accompanied by the Public
Affairs Officer. The discussion covered issues of mutual
interest including an American company's presence in Sierra
Leone, the possible return of the Peace Corps, and the
Minister's own desire to attend a seminar in the U.S. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) Ambassador Perry met with the Minister of Presidential
and Public Affairs Alhaji Alpha Kanu on March 7. The
Ambassador reiterated U.S. congratulations on the peaceful
and transparent Presidential and parliamentary elections of
2007 and expressed hope for a similar experience for the 2008
local council elections. She welcomed the opportunity to meet
with the Minister on this courtesy call.


3. (C) Ambassador raised the issue of Seaboard West Africa
Ltd., an American-owned company in Sierra Leone which had
been facing a number of operational difficulties in Sierra
Leone, stemming in part from a volatile global market for
wheat compounded by the price ceiling on flour imposed by the
Sierra Leone government in response to rising prices
(reftel). She noted that Seaboard is also concerned that
companies with "other national interests" are being favored
for doing business in Sierra Leone. Seaboard's corporate
headquarters has suggested that the company may have to leave
the country despite its long-standing presence here. The
Ambassador stressed the importance of fostering an
environment conducive to investment and increasing the
professionalization of business conduct, in general, in
Sierra Leone. She identified the need to improve the
investment climate as a key factor in attaining possible
threshold status in the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Minister Kanu did not respond directly to the Ambassador's
concerns about Seaboard's operations in Sierra Leone and
offered no explanation of the GoSL actions and mandated price
ceilings.


4. (C) Minister Kanu did inquire about the possibility of a
return of the Peace Corps to Sierra Leone. He fondly
recalled his own experience learning from Peace Corps
Volunteer teachers in his youth. Ambassador Perry assured the
Minister that she is in regular contact with Peace Corps
leadership and has consistently advocated for its return.


5. (SBU) Minister Kanu also informed the Ambassador that he
had been invited to participate in a 3-week leadership
seminar at Harvard in June. While he was very much looking
forward to the opportunity to attend the course, he was
uncertain about covering the expense and inquired if the U.S.
could fund his attendance. The Ambassador did not commit to
do so.


6. (C) COMMENT: Minister Kanu serves as the Presidential
spokesperson and is eloquent in expressing the views of
President Koroma and the GoSL. Despite this eloquence, he
failed to seize on the issues presented by Ambassador or
provide commentary or insight. Instead, he turned what was a
very brief meeting into an opportunity to seek assistance for
the Harvard training, which we could obviously not promise to
provide. END COMMENT.
PERRY