VZCZCXRO1919
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #1013 1230745
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 030745Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1150
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ACCRA 001013 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV GH CI TO
SUBJECT: GHANAIAN NGO HOSTS TOGOLESE AND IVORIAN PARTY TALKS 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  In two separate events, Ghana's 
Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) hosted conferences with 
Togolese and Ivoirian political parties in Accra to discuss 
creative listening and conflict management skills.  The IEA 
expects to host a second conference for Togolese parties in 
May.  The Ivoirian conference resulted in a joint communique 
in which parties declared their willingness to continue to 
interact with their Ghanaian facilitators on a quarterly 
basis.  The IEA's efforts highlight the constructive, often 
low-key role of Ghana in promoting peace in the region.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) With financial assistance from the Dutch 
Government, the IEA launched its first attempt at 
international mediation among representatives of various 
Togolese parties in December, 2005.  All of the major 
opposition parties attended workshops in Accra, and one 
party allied with the GOT, the CPP, also participated. 
Organizers described the gathering as helpful and positive, 
expressing the hope that the ruling RPT would send a 
representative to the next such informal conference, 
tentatively planned for May, 2006. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The IEA organized a similar event for seven 
Ivoirian political parties, including the President's 
Ivoirian Popular Front (FPI) on April 7-8 in Accra.  During 
the opening of the conference, Ghanaian speakers emphasized 
the importance of free expression, free association, 
tolerance, and learning to disagree "agreeably," noting that 
a small amount of arguing is good for democracy process and 
enriches the decision-making process.  IEA Acting Head of 
Governance Kwesi Jonah remarked that Ghanaians "feel your 
pain" and want to share their experiences in developing a 
stable democracy.  One of the keys to Ghana's positive 
evolution had been the establishment of back-channel 
contacts between political opponents, away from the glare of 
the media, something that Ghana's development partners, 
including the U.S. and Canada, had encouraged, Jonah said. 
 
¶4.  (U) Jonah urged his Ivoirian guests to avoid political 
parties based on ethnicity or religion; to contest the next 
elections, rather than boycotting them; to rebuild trust and 
confidence among themselves; to find a way to keep the army 
in its barracks and generate employment for the youth; and 
to limit political ambitions for the greater good.  He 
invited the audience to join in the "exhilarating task" of 
restoring Cote d'Ivoire to its once leading position in the 
sub-region as a nation promoting order, stability, and 
prosperity. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In an April 11 meeting with Poloff, Jonah 
described these sessions as "very successful."  The April 
event was more difficult to organize, he said, requiring 
numerous trips to Cote d'Ivoire to convince parties to 
participate.  Jonah said President Gbagbo enthusiastically 
backed the idea of a multi-party meeting with Ghanaian 
counterparts.  He praised the joint communique Ivoirian 
participants issued on April 8, in which they vowed to 
continue interacting with their Ghanaian counterparts on a 
quarterly basis.  Jonah declared that Ghana was willing to 
host similar gatherings for other African countries facing 
political difficulties.  He remarked that not long ago, 
meetings such as these would have been resisted as 
"interference in another country's internal affairs." 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Comment:   The IEA sessions on Togo and Cote 
d'Ivoire received scant publicity, in keeping with the 
organizers' preferences.  However, they appear to have 
played a constructive role in bridging dialogue in both Togo 
and Cote d'Ivoire.  They also highlighted Ghana's 
constructive, often low-key role in seeking solutions to 
regional conflicts. 
 
¶7.  (U) This telegram was cleared by Embassies Lome and 
Abidjan prior to transmission. 
 
LANIER