Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ACCRA59
2009-01-28 16:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:
VICE PRESIDENT MAHAMA AT AU SUMMIT
how-toVZCZCXRO7186 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHAR #0059 0281608 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 281608Z JAN 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7533 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS ACCRA 000059
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GH KDEM PGOV PHUM PINS PREL
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT MAHAMA AT AU SUMMIT
REF: SECSTATE 07005
UNCLAS ACCRA 000059
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GH KDEM PGOV PHUM PINS PREL
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT MAHAMA AT AU SUMMIT
REF: SECSTATE 07005
1. (SBU) Embassy has delivered a non-paper informing Vice
President John Mahama of the issues reftel that Acting A/S
Carter hopes to discuss at AU summit. Mahama will be
departing Accra on January 30, and is expecting to meet with
the acting A/S on February 1. His advance team, headed by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chief Director Ambassador
J.E. Aggrey, has already departed the country.
2. (SBU) President Mills yesterday announced the appointment
of Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni as the new Foreign Minister.
(Mumuni, Mills' running mate in his unsuccessful 2004
presidential campaign, must be vetted by Parliament before
assuming office.) At this time, with the absence of the
Chief Director, who is the highest ranking official in the
Foreign Ministry, embassy has no substantive person with whom
to discuss the issues raised reftel.
3. (SBU) On January 26, Ambassador spoke with Victor Gbeho,
member of the transition team and former Foreign Minister,
who said that the Mills administration was not planning to
make any substantive changes in Ghana's foreign policy.
Ghana has been a strong proponent of good governance in
Africa and has played a positive role in both the AU and
ECOWAS. In his inaugural address, President Mills promised
that Ghana would "continue to be active in the African Union
and in efforts to resolve conflicts on the continent. We
will collaborate with the United Nations and other
international and global institutions to make the world a
better and safer place."
4. (SBU) Embassy believes that in his meeting with A/S
Carter, Vice President Mahama will be sympathetic to the U.S.
posture on all of the issues raised reftel. We don't,
however, expect the Mills government to be much more vocal or
forward leaning than the Kufuor administration was in dealing
with some of the more intractable problems on the continent,
especially in the initial months as it concentrates on
domestic issues and the Ghanaian economy. One of embassy's
goals, once President Mills has had a chance to settle into
office and a new Foreign Minister is in place, will be to
encourage Ghana to make its voice heard by taking a stronger
stance in standing up against terrorism, human rights abuses,
and the use of military force as a means to power in African
countries.
TEITELBAUM
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GH KDEM PGOV PHUM PINS PREL
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT MAHAMA AT AU SUMMIT
REF: SECSTATE 07005
1. (SBU) Embassy has delivered a non-paper informing Vice
President John Mahama of the issues reftel that Acting A/S
Carter hopes to discuss at AU summit. Mahama will be
departing Accra on January 30, and is expecting to meet with
the acting A/S on February 1. His advance team, headed by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chief Director Ambassador
J.E. Aggrey, has already departed the country.
2. (SBU) President Mills yesterday announced the appointment
of Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni as the new Foreign Minister.
(Mumuni, Mills' running mate in his unsuccessful 2004
presidential campaign, must be vetted by Parliament before
assuming office.) At this time, with the absence of the
Chief Director, who is the highest ranking official in the
Foreign Ministry, embassy has no substantive person with whom
to discuss the issues raised reftel.
3. (SBU) On January 26, Ambassador spoke with Victor Gbeho,
member of the transition team and former Foreign Minister,
who said that the Mills administration was not planning to
make any substantive changes in Ghana's foreign policy.
Ghana has been a strong proponent of good governance in
Africa and has played a positive role in both the AU and
ECOWAS. In his inaugural address, President Mills promised
that Ghana would "continue to be active in the African Union
and in efforts to resolve conflicts on the continent. We
will collaborate with the United Nations and other
international and global institutions to make the world a
better and safer place."
4. (SBU) Embassy believes that in his meeting with A/S
Carter, Vice President Mahama will be sympathetic to the U.S.
posture on all of the issues raised reftel. We don't,
however, expect the Mills government to be much more vocal or
forward leaning than the Kufuor administration was in dealing
with some of the more intractable problems on the continent,
especially in the initial months as it concentrates on
domestic issues and the Ghanaian economy. One of embassy's
goals, once President Mills has had a chance to settle into
office and a new Foreign Minister is in place, will be to
encourage Ghana to make its voice heard by taking a stronger
stance in standing up against terrorism, human rights abuses,
and the use of military force as a means to power in African
countries.
TEITELBAUM