GHANA PROPOSES ENVOY TO ENLIST SUPPORT FOR COPENHAGEN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000107

DEPARTMENT FOR S/SECC, OES/PCI AND AF/W

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGHG ENRG EAID GH
SUBJECT: GHANA PROPOSES ENVOY TO ENLIST SUPPORT FOR COPENHAGEN
CLIMATE ACCORD

REFS: A. STATE 3079

B. 09 ACCRA 1288

C. ACCRA 84

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1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the Ambassador on January 29,
Ghana's Environment, Science and Technology Minister, Sherry
Ayittey, said that the Copenhagen Climate Change Accord enjoyed
widespread support among African states, but some were confused
about how to associate under the Accord's opt-in procedures. She
predicted that the vast majority of African states would associate
with the Accord by mid-2010, but suggested that the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change Secretariat could help speed up the
process by appointing a special envoy -- Kofi Annan for example --
to make the rounds of African states and enlist support for the
Accord. The Minister also shared with the Ambassador the
investigation report on the Newmont Gold Mining Corporation's
chemical spill (Ref C),and the ministry's desire to establish
science libraries in Ghana. END SUMMARY.

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Africa Group on Board With Accord
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2. (SBU) In a meeting with Ghanaian Environment, Science and
Technology Minister Sherry Ayittey on January 29, the Ambassador
thanked the minister for Ghana's vocal support for the Copenhagen
Climate Change Accord and quick association with the Accord (on
January 13),and briefed her on the U.S. association and inscription
of an emissions reduction target on January 28. The Ambassador also
urged Ghana to take a leading regional role by urging other African
states to associate with the Accord.


3. (SBU) Highlighting Ghana's recent association with the Copenhagen
Accord, Minister Ayittey shared with the Ambassador a copy of
Ghana's proposed "Low Carbon Growth Plan" that the ministry had
prepared with the assistance of the McKinsey & Company consulting
firm. She noted that Ghana intended to inscribe a list of specific
climate change actions with the UN Climate Change Secretariat
consistent with the low carbon growth plan.


4. (SBU) Turning to the broader situation within the Africa Group,
Minister Ayittey noted that most African states were in favor of the
Accord, and like Ghana, were attracted to the Accord's pledges of
climate change mitigation and adaptation assistance for Africa and
the least developed countries. In particular, the Accord's
provisions on technology transfer in the areas of climate change and
renewable energy fit well with on-going efforts to foster broader
collaboration on science and technology issues within Africa, to get
African countries to include science and technology development in
their national budgets, and the recent creation of a Climate Change
Office at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.


5. (SBU) However, the association and opt-in procedures of the
Accord were confusing to some countries, Minister Ayittey noted,
while bureaucratic delays in others meant that foreign ministries
had been slow to share information with the "sector ministries" that
have the lead role on questions of climate change and the
environment. She predicted that by mid-2010, the vast majority of
African states would associate with the Accord, but the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change Secretariat could speed up the process
by appointing an envoy to make the rounds of African states and drum
up support for the Accord. In that regard, she suggested that
former UNSYG Kofi Annan, a vocal advocate on issues of climate
justice, would be a good choice, and would be supported not only by
Ghana, but also by AMCEN (the African Ministerial Conference on the
Environment).

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Newmont Chemical Spill
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6. (SBU) Minister Ayittey shared a copy of the GOG report from the
recently completed investigation of the chemical spill at the
Newmont Gold Mining Corporation's Ahafo gold mine, which led to the
imposition of a $5 million compensation penalty on Newmont (REF C).
She said that the investigation had been fair and transparent.
Newmont executives had recently met with her and repeated their
objections to the report's conclusion that the company had initially
attempted to "cover up" the incident. She had told the company that
they were free to take a reservation or lodge an objection to that
particular conclusion.


7. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that Newmont had publicly stated its
desire to be a good corporate citizen in Ghana, conceded it had
poorly responded to the chemical spill, and intended to pay the $5

ACCRA 00000107 002 OF 002


million penalty. The Ambassador also noted that artisanal gold
miners in Ghana appeared to be causing environmental damage and were
poisoning lands and bodies of water where they operated. Minister
Ayittey agreed that artisanal miners had a big impact on the
environment and public health, and they should be organized,
licensed and regulated. She said that she would be touring
artisanal mining sites in Ghana's Eastern Region in March 2010 to
collect more information about artisanal mining practices and to
consider environmental enforcement options on the miners.

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Science Libraries in Ghana
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8. (SBU) Minister Ayittey noted that her ministry was preparing a
written proposal regarding the establishment of three modern science
libraries in Ghana, to help encourage an interest in science among
primary and secondary students, and ultimately help build a strong
core of young scientists, technicians and engineers to aid in the
country's development. She expressed hope that the U.S. would be
able to support the initiative. The Ambassador said the embassy
would consider the initiative once the written proposal was ready,
and noted that the idea might be of interest to the Carnegie
Foundation, or another U.S. NGO active in library and educational
public-private partnerships.

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COMMENT
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9. (SBU) Ghana's quick association with the Copenhagen Accord and
preparation of a low carbon growth plan clearly demonstrates that
the country is positioning itself in the vanguard of African states
on climate change issues. Ghana will also play a useful role in
encouraging others within the Africa Group and AU to associate with
the Accord. The suggestion of an envoy, such as Kofi Annan, to drum
up support for the Accord within Africa, is also worth serious
consideration by the UNFCC Secretariat in Bonn.

TEITELBAUM