Ghana said attack on Tsvangirai was a disaster

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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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

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