US embassy cable - 04ACCRA1509

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001509 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, GH, ECOWAS 
SUBJECT: GENERAL CHARLES WALD CALLS ON PRESIDENT KUFUOR 
 
 
Classified By: Polchief Richard Kaminski, reason 1.5 (B/D). 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary.  General Charles Wald, Deputy EUCOM 
Commander, accompanied by Ambassador Yates and the Wald 
delegation, called on President Kufuor July 16.  Wald offered 
congratulations on Ghana's MCA selection, offered to assist 
with GAF mobility problems, praised Ghana's ECOWAS 
leadership, and noted the USG's strong interest in seeing 
Africa equipped to respond to security challenges "at its own 
time and choosing."  He also announced Ghana's selection for 
the State Partnership Program.  Kufuor spoke warmly of his 
reception at the G-8 Sea Island meeting, thanked the USG its 
continuing security assistance, requested C-130 aircraft for 
Ghana's air force, and agreed that a strengthened African 
security structure was in "everyone's interest."  Kufuor also 
professed optimism regarding the upcoming Accra III talks on 
Cote d'Ivoire.  End summary. 
 
2.  (C) General Charles Wald, accompanied by Ambassador 
Yates, Polad Snell, Brigadier General Zahner, and other 
members of the embassy and delegation staff, called on 
President Kufuor July 16.  Defense Minister Kwame Addo-Kufuor 
and Chief of Defense Staff Seth Obeng also attended on the 
Ghanaian side.  Wald began by congratulating Kufuor on 
Ghana's selection for MCA.  He also praised the strength of 
USG-Ghana military cooperation, welcomed the African Union 
announcement of 5 regional standby forces, commended Ghana's 
ECOWAS leadership, extolled General Obeng's military planning 
prowess, and endorsed the concept of an African Union 
security system that is equipped to "respond at its own 
option" to continental crises.  Wald said that, for a start, 
the USG would "help with mobility" for the Ghana Armed 
Forces.  He also announced Ghana's selection for the State 
Partnership Program, with Ghana to benefit from North 
Dakota's reserve units. 
 
3.  (C) Wald suggested that ECOWAS was "the model for Africa" 
in its handling of politico-military challenges, and the USG 
would help Africa replicate that model elsewhere.  Wald also 
said he had been favorably impressed with the increasing 
technical competence of the ECOWAS military staff, with new 
officers from ECOWAS countries coming on board.  The USG, 
said Wald, had been making major efforts to establish 
effective bulwarks against terrorism in North Africa, and he 
hoped to see the same sort of cooperation with ECOWAS, with 
its strengthened planning capability.  The newly announced 
Global Peace Keeping Initiative would be one vehicle for such 
assistance, he suggested. 
 
4.  (C)  President Kufuor thanked Wald for his remarks on 
Ghana's contributions to regional security.  He noted his 
pleasure at attending the G-8 Sea Island meetings with other 
African heads of state, saying that "we wish to provide for 
ourselves," but "we must be realists," and keep close 
relations with donor governments.  An effective African 
security system required help from friendly governments, he 
said.  Kufuor thanked the USG for Ghana's MCA selection, and 
praised the embassy's support and involvement in the process. 
Kufuor praised USG bi-lateral military aid programs, and 
several times asked for provision of C-130 aircraft.  At one 
point, Kufor called departing TV cameramen back into his 
office, and had them tape his request to Wald for the C-130s. 
 Wald responded by once again offering help with "mobility" 
and by saying that the USG would "look at" provision of 
C-130s scheduled to be taken out of service.  (Note: Press 
articles the following day took their cue from the 
President's approach as they headlined, "Ghana to Receive US 
Transport Planes." Expectations may be difficult to fulfill 
with the President's prestige on the line.  End note). 
 
5.  (SBU) General Wald announced and detailed Ghana's 
selection for the State Partnership Program, which had been 
formally designated that day as a Ghana/North Dakota 
partnership.  Wald's home state, said Wald, offered 
outstanding air and engineering reserve units who would work 
with the Ghanaian armed forces to increase their 
effectiveness and expertise.  Kufuor was pleased with the 
news on the SPP and the fact that Ghana was only the third 
country in Africa to qualify. 
 
6.  (SBU) Prompted by a question by Ambassador Yates, Kufuor 
expressed guarded optimism on the Accra III peace talks 
scheduled for July 29 and 30. He expected Presidents 
Obasanjo, Bongo, Kerekou, Toure, Compaore, and possible 
Mbeki, among others, to attend, as well as UNSG Kofi Annan, 
and all the various players in the Ivorien crisis, including 
President Gbagbo.  Although all the various factions would be 
expected to compromise, Gbagbo would be particularly looked 
to for helpful concessions, he said. 
 
7. (C)  Comment.  General Wald's praise for Ghana's military 
fell on very receptive ears, civilian and uniformed alike. 
USG interest in an effective African security system 
dovetails with Ghana's wish for enhanced military 
professionalism and regional reach.  The Ghanaian government 
press corps, unskilled (or uninterested) in the subtleties of 
donor/recipient conversation, promptly reported that Wald had 
promised C-130s to Ghana, something we may have to walk back 
in future press remarks.  However, the level of cooperation 
between our two militaries has never been higher, and seems 
poised for further progress.  End Comment. 
 
 
 
 
YATES