Ghana’s Deputy Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei-Adjei said the attack on opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe was more than embarrassing. It was a disaster.
He told this to the United States ambassador after the ambassador had delivered the US government’s message expressing its concern about the situation in Zimbabwe.
Osei-Adjei said he hoped Africa had moved beyond the era of one-man authoritarian rule and that the African Union and Human Rights Council would take a strong stand on Zimbabwe, which he said Ghana would be willing to sponsor.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 07ACCRA613, GHANA ON SOMALIA, SUDAN, ZIMBABWE
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|
Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO8677
OO RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #0613 0780737
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 190737Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4001
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0179
RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0114
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0020
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0526
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000613
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EMBASSY ADDIS FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2017
TAGS: GH PHUM PREL UNHCR ZI KPKO CT CD UNSC AU
SO
SUBJECT: GHANA ON SOMALIA, SUDAN, ZIMBABWE
REF: A. STATE 30382
¶B. STATE 33268
¶C. STATE 33367
Classified By: Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater for reasons 1.4 d and e
.
¶1. (C) Summary: On March 16, Ambassador met with Deputy
Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei-Adjei (the Foreign Minister was
out of the country) to discuss Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
The Deputy Minister said Ghana would issue statements on
Somalia and Zimbabwe by Mach 19 and was committed to
resolving the Darfur risis through the AU an UN. End
summary.
Soalia
——-
¶2. (C) Osei-Adjei said he had soken with President Kufuor
who agreed that Ghana needed to make a strong statement
against the attack on AMISOM forces, both as AU Chair and as
a country which has committed to sending troops to Somalia.
Ghana plans to issue such a statement March 16 or 19, he
said.
Zimbabwe
——–
¶3. (C) Ambassdor delivered ref B demarche, emphasizing USG
concern at the highest levels about Zimbabwe’s security
situation. She urged the GOG, as AU Chair and an active
member of the UN Human Rights Council, to take a leadership
position in condemning the recent brutal attacks. Ghana’s
stance on this matter would be an important part of its
legacy as AU Chair, she said, noting President Kufuor’s
recent statement that the attacks were “embarrassing.”
Osei-Adjei thought the attack on Morgan Tsvangirai was “more
than embarrassing – it was a disaster” and said the GOG would
issue a statement on Zimbabwe by March 19. He had hoped
Africa had moved beyond the era of one-man authoritarian rule
and that the AU and Human Rights Council would take a strong
stand on Zimbabwe, which he said Ghana would be willing to
sponsor.
Sudan
—–
¶4. (C) In response to ref C demarche on President Bashir’s
rejection of a “Heavy Support Package” for Darfur, Osei-Adjei
agreed with the urgent need to solve the Darfur problem,
stressing that national sovereignty should not be the issue
and that “enough is enough.” President Kufuor has personally
engaged on this issue and will use his influence as AU Chair
to work for a solution through AU mechanisms. Osei-Adjei
pointed out that Ghana co-sponsored the UN resolution on
Darfur and supports a hybrid force, and that “Sudan has never
forgiven us for it.” Ghana will look at any new UN Security
Council resolutions objectively, he added.
BRIDGEWATER
(44 VIEWS)
