GHANAIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADVISOR TOUR D'HORIZON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 001155 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2034 TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR MOPS GH TO SUBJECT: GHANAIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADVISOR TOUR D'HORIZON REF: A. A) ACCRA 1085 AND REVIOUS (NOTAL) ¶B. B) ACCRA 1111 ¶C. C) STATE 107847 Classified By: Ambassador Donald Teitelbaum for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) . ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. The Ambassador hosted Presidential Foreign Affairs Advisor Victor Gbeho for lunch and a tour d'horizon on October 20. Highlights of the discussion follow. END SUMMARY. GHANA WILL SUPPORT GOOD GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA -------------- ¶2. (C) Asked about what we should be doing to build on our bilateral relationship, Gbeho described the bilateral relationship as outstanding. He noted that Ghana as still basking in the glow of the visit by President Obama. Gbeho said that Ghana understands President Obama's focus on governance and will support his message on democracy and good governance on a continent-wide basis. He said the GOG can be expected to take a very firm line on issues such as Guinea and Niger, but that Ghana would prefer to work through multilateral organizations such as ECOWAS and the African Union. Wherever possible, Ghana will want to build a consensus rather than raise its voice alone. He described this as a long-held Ghanaian preference that is unlikely to change. ¶3. (C) On the issue of good governance, he noted that the GOG is deeply committed to fighting corruption and that President Mills had just accepted the resignations of two cabinet ministers facing allegations of corruption (REF A). Gbeho opined that the case against the Ministers was not necessarily as strong as it appeared at first glance. He thought that the allegations against them might not stand up in court and that the Ministers might later be exonerated. Whatever might happen in the future, the Mills Government feels that the allegations alone are enough to require that they leave office. GHANAIAN PEACEKEEPERS NEED SUPPORT -------------- ¶4. (C) Gbeho noted that at UNGA, President Mills had made a strong pitch for support for Ghanaian peacekeeping. He added his own personal request for "whatever support is available." He noted that the Ghanaian military is stretched thin on peacekeeping missions and "needs all the support it can get." He added that "The military guys will tell you that they want specific equipment and that it has to be new, but don't pay any attention to them. They need everything and will take whatever you have available." I noted that physical assets are not particularly abundant right now, but that we will keep his request in mind. JERRY RAWLINGS WARNING ON TOGO -------------- ¶5. (C) Gbeho was Foreign Minister under Rawlings and remains a close confidante of the former President. Gbeho noted that he had just come from a meeting with Rawlings and that Rawlings had asked that he pass on a warning. Rawlings believes that the Government of Togo is preparing to steal elections and is seeking arms to support its efforts. He asserted that they are trying to get the arms from Angola. Rawlings urges the USG to keep pressure on the Togolese government and consider high profile meetings with the opposition. Gbeho stressed that he was passing on Rawlings' message and pointedly avoided expressing his own view on the veracity of the report. NOTE: Post leaves it for our colleagues in Embssy Lome and the Department to judge the value of Rawlings' warning. END NOTE. RAWLINGS OUT OF TOUCH -------------- ¶6. (C) Turning the discussion to Jerry Rawlings himself, Gbeho (strictly protect) noted that Rawlings remains an important political figure, but that his criticism and other interference in the current government's affairs is counterproductive. Gbeho stated that part of the problem is that Rawlings is living in the past. He refuses to accept that Ghana has moved on since he left the Presidency and that different times require different methods. This is exacerbated by the fact that Rawlings increasingly views disagreement with him as personal disloyalty. He noted that "when he decides he dislikes someone, he expects everyone around him to dislike them, too." Gbeho attributed this changing attitude to "vanity" and noted that this had never been a problem in the past. Gbeho suggested that it would be extremely useful if a position with a UN Commission or something similar could be arranged to keep Rawlings occupied. GHANA'S FIRST CHOICE IS TO BUY KOSMOS' ASSETS ITSELF -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) On oil, Gbeho stated frankly that the GOG's preferred outcome is to purchase Kosmos Energy's share in the Jubilee Consortium. He added, however, that the fact that it is Ghana's preferred outcome doesn't make it a fact, or even very likely. He said that Ghana would have to pay market price and that Ghana would have to find the financing. The financing could come from the Chinese, but even if there is a Chinese offer, it will come with many strings attached. Ghana will have to examine any Chinese offer to decide whether it is really in Ghana's interests. Gbeho did not discuss any other options. He did express negative feelings about Kosmos Energy, noting his opinion that "Kosmos broke the law," although he provided no further details. I responded by drawing on language provided by the Department stressing the importance of rule of law and transparency and the impact on possible investors in Ghana (Refs B and C). ¶8. (C) COMMENT. Gbeho is generally well informed on a broad range of issues. He is viewed by most as connected primarily to Rawlings, but there is no doubt that he has real influence within the Mills Administration. His views on Rawlings are significant. If Rawlings is alienating his own loyalists, his influence within the Party could begin to wane. That said there is no indication that his vast popularity with the grass roots of the party and the average Ghanaian on the street is diminishing. On oil, Gbeho's viewpoints seem in synch with what we are hearing from other sources. The GOG is interested in buying out Kosmos, but it is not clear how realistic this interest is. END COMMENT. TEITELBAUM