GHANA: BROAD SUPPORT FOR U.S. UNGA OBJECTIVES

UNCLAS ACCRA 000903 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA (BOWLES),AND IO/UNP (SUN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA ECON GH SUBJECT: GHANA: BROAD SUPPORT FOR U.S. UNGA OBJECTIVES REF: STATE 90254 ¶1. (SBU) POL Chief met September 2 with MFA Director of International Organizations Affairs Beatrice Brobbey to seek support for U.S. priorities at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA),including non-proliferation and disarmament; climate change and other environmental issues; human rights and democracy; the UN budget; peacekeeping and conflict management; economic growth and development; combating gender violence; and UN management reform. ¶2. (SBU) Brobbey referred to a draft speech on her desk containing President Mills' planned remarks, and said that Ghana's priorities for the upcoming UNGA are identical to U.S. objectives, with the exception of the U.S. focus on the UN budget. She said that Ghana would also underline the need to enhance dialogue among civilizations and protect and promote the rights of children. Furthermore, Ghana will focus special attention on the global economic crisis, particularly the need for developed countries to help those that are developing. In that light, Brobbey said Ghana would welcome the U.S. endorsement of the Millenium Development Goals as "America's Goals." She noted that a key Ghanaian foreign policy priority - in both bilateral and multilateral fora - is to "market Ghana" and attract more foreign direct investment. TEITELBAUM