US embassy cable - 05ACCRA2327

UNCLAS ACCRA 002327 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, GH, PGOV, PHUM, PREL 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS VICE PRESIDENT OF GHANA ALHAJI 
ALIU MAHAMA 
 
 
1.  Summary:  On November 10, the Ambassador paid a courtesy 
call on Ghanaian Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama. The Vice 
President praised our strong bilateral relationship, 
especially the MCA compact.  He said the Northern Region of 
Ghana is calm and he was proud of the GOG's early submission 
of the budget.  End summary. 
 
Bilateral Relations 
------------------- 
 
2.  The Vice President praised our excellent bilateral 
relations, expressing appreciation for USG development 
assistance, debt relief, and military-military engagement. 
The GOG "treasures" the proposed MCA compact and hopes to 
finalize it soon.  He hoped the Ambassador would help attract 
investment to Ghana as well as aiding Ghana to tap U.S. 
expertise in agriculture.  Aliu Mahama appreciated our 
support on counter-narcotics but hoped for more assistance 
with the police and security agencies. 
 
3.  The Ambassador noted USG assistance in counternarcotics 
and police training.  She explained her meeting earlier in 
the day with the President to focus on what the GOG needs to 
do to progress toward an MCA compact.  She mentioned that 
Ghana had qualified for MCA funds in 2006.  We want to work 
to ensure Ghana adopts solid projects to the benefit of all 
Ghanaians. 
 
Muslims, the North, the Budget 
------------------------------ 
 
4.  The Ambassador thanked the Vice President for his support 
to Mission Muslim outreach efforts.  The Vice President 
explained that Tamale and the Northern Region (his home 
territory) is generally calm, although problems can spring up 
unexpectedly.  Muslim-Christian relations are generally very 
good, although Ghanaians should not be complacent.  The 
Ambassador congratulated Aliu Mahama on the government's 
submission of the budget on November 10.  The Vice President 
was pleased that this was the first time the GOG had 
presented a budget before the end of the calendar year.  He 
hoped the extra time for discussion would help empower people 
in the budget process. 
 
 
LANIER