Cablegate: Ghana's Response to Demarche On Sierra Leone

VZCZCXRO0038
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #1893 2491614
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061614Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5243
INFO RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN IMMEDIATE 0387
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ACCRA 001893

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W AND INR/AA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA'S RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON SIERRA LEONE
ELECTIONS

REF: A. STATE 124246

B. FREETOWN 542

1. (SBU) In response to ref A, on September 6 Charge spoke to
D.K. Osei, President Kufuor's Foreign Policy Advisor, to
convey USG concerns over tensions surrounding the run-off
presidential elections in Sierra Leone, and to seek a
statement from President Kufuor in his capacity as head of
the African Union. Osei, who took a short break from a
cabinet meeting to speak with Charge, noted that a
representative from President Kufuor's office had traveled
Saturday (September 1) to Freetown with ECOWAS Executive
Secretary Mohammed Chambas and the Burkina Faso Foreign

SIPDIS
Minister. Osei said they had met with representatives of all
concerned political parties, and stressed the importance of
committing to non-violent campaigning and restraint of party
supporters.

2. (SBU) Osei also noted that this group had persuaded the
candidates to ride in a joint motorcade through Freetown
September 6 to visibly demonstrate their commitment to a
peaceful democratic process. Osei said he had also spoken
with Chambas, who said the delegation was very happy with the
results of their discussions and encouraged by the
candidates' expressed desire for a peaceful run-off election.
Chambas told Osei that the delegation had communicated in
strong terms the disastrous repercussions should there be a
perception of a lack of impartiality that leads to violence.
Osei promised to provide further details after the cabinet
adjourned later in the evening, but made no commitment on
behalf of President Kufuor to issue a public statement.
PERGL

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