US embassy cable - 05ACCRA652

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, ELAB, GH, KWMN, PGOV, PHUM 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS GHANA'S MINISTER OF MANPOWER, 
YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT 
 
REF: ACCRA 306 
 
1.  Summary: In a March 30 meeting with the Ambassador, 
Ghana's new Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment Joseph 
Adda said he wants to give labor issues more prominence.  His 
ministry is developing a strategic plan and engaging 
constructively with labor unions.  The Ambassador raised the 
need to pass a trafficking in persons (TIP) law.  Adda said 
it would pass once parliament returns from recess in May and 
that he would explore interim measures to demonstrate the 
GOG's seriousness on this issue.  End summary. 
 
2.  On March 30, Ambassador, USAID Director and PolChief paid 
a courtesy call on Ghana's new Minister of Manpower, Youth 
and Employment, Joseph Kofi Adda.  The Ambassador 
congratulated him on his new post and noted the importance we 
place on labor, employment and youth issues.  USAID Director 
expressed USAID's interest in continuing to cooperate with 
his ministry in training the National Labor Commission and 
through USAID's Trade and Investment Program for a 
Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE) project. 
 
Ministry Getting Organized 
-------------------------- 
 
3.  (U)  Adda said the President had elevated his ministry to 
Cabinet status, with more resources, in recognition of the 
importance of labor and youth issues.  He noted institutional 
problems in the ministry and the need to create a modern 
labor information system to gather and analyze employment 
data.  Adda is working on a strategic plan for the 
manpower/employment sector and plans to do a rapid appraisal 
of priority needs.  He will be looking for donor support in 
this effort, including from the USG.  Adda saw the need to 
create a labor relations desk in the ministry and expressed a 
special interest in youth programs, such as starting 
U.S.-style youth marching bands in all districts. 
 
Union Activity 
-------------- 
 
4.  The National Tripartite Commission is active in mediating 
labor issues.  Adda hoped to strengthen GOG relations with 
labor unions, bringing them more into decision making  He 
pointed to a recent constructive meeting with garment and 
textile unions to discuss ways of encouraging the use of 
Ghanaian textiles.  He had chaired a meeting on March 29 with 
about fifty labor activists and union leaders to respond to 
concerns about the GOG's recent decision to increase 
petroleum prices.  This was a bigger group than in past 
meetings, and union attendees overcame initial hostility to 
gain a better understanding of and even applaud GOG 
decisions.  He would hold another similar meeting later that 
afternoon. 
 
Trafficking in Persons 
---------------------- 
 
5.  The Ambassador said she had discussed TIP issues during a 
recent meeting with the President, and hoped Ghana would not 
lose its Tier 1 status because of its failure to pass an 
anti-TIP law.  Adda said the GOG was concerned about TIP and 
he would make the issue a priority. However, because 
parliament was in recess until May 10, it would be impossible 
to pass a TIP law by the end of April.  During the 
parliamentary recess period he would explore actions the GOG 
could do without a law, such as issuing a high level policy 
statement against TIP and taking administrative steps on the 
trafficking issue. There is no longer a conflict between the 
Ministries of Women and Children's Affairs and Manpower, 
Youth and Employment over leadership on the TIP issue.  As a 
Member of Parliament himself, he said he did not expect 
opposition in parliament to the TIP bill.  Once the bill is 
presented to parliament, it might be possible to accelerate 
passage if the parliamentary leadership sees it as an urgent, 
noncontentious matter.  Pressure for speedy passage by civil 
society organizations could be helpful.  Combating 
trafficking requires a long term societal approach to reduce 
poverty and create employment.  His ministry has been looking 
at measures to prevent TIP, such as education campaigns. 
Adda hoped that Washington would understand that transitions 
by new governments are slow periods, during which many 
initiatives need to be reviewed and resubmitted for 
clearance. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
6.  Adda has an impressive background, including degrees from 
Indiana Wesleyan University, Columbia, and the Sorbonne (see 
bio reftel).  He clearly wants to significantly raise the 
profile of his ministry and streamline the bureaucracy.  He 
will be an ally in getting passage and effective 
implementation of a TIP law. 
 
 
YATES