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P 040727Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8867
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000107 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR S/SECC, OES/PCI AND AF/W 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV KGHG ENRG EAID GH
SUBJECT: GHANA PROPOSES ENVOY TO ENLIST SUPPORT FOR COPENHAGEN 
CLIMATE ACCORD 
 
REFS: A. STATE 3079 
  ¶B. 09 ACCRA 1288 
  ¶C. ACCRA 84 
 
THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  PLEASE PROTECT 
ACCORDINGLY.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the Ambassador on January 29, 
Ghana's Environment, Science and Technology Minister, Sherry 
Ayittey, said that the Copenhagen Climate Change Accord enjoyed 
widespread support among African states, but some were confused 
about how to associate under the Accord's opt-in procedures.  She 
predicted that the vast majority of African states would associate 
with the Accord by mid-2010, but suggested that the UN Framework 
Convention on Climate Change Secretariat could help speed up the 
process by appointing a special envoy -- Kofi Annan for example -- 
to make the rounds of African states and enlist support for the 
Accord.  The Minister also shared with the Ambassador the 
investigation report on the Newmont Gold Mining Corporation's 
chemical spill (Ref C), and the ministry's desire to establish 
science libraries in Ghana.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Africa Group on Board With Accord 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a meeting with Ghanaian Environment, Science and 
Technology Minister Sherry Ayittey on January 29, the Ambassador 
thanked the minister for Ghana's vocal support for the Copenhagen 
Climate Change Accord and quick association with the Accord (on 
January 13), and briefed her on the U.S. association and inscription 
of an emissions reduction target on January 28.  The Ambassador also 
urged Ghana to take a leading regional role by urging other African 
states to associate with the Accord. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Highlighting Ghana's recent association with the Copenhagen 
Accord, Minister Ayittey shared with the Ambassador a copy of 
Ghana's proposed "Low Carbon Growth Plan" that the ministry had 
prepared with the assistance of the McKinsey & Company consulting 
firm.  She noted that Ghana intended to inscribe a list of specific 
climate change actions with the UN Climate Change Secretariat 
consistent with the low carbon growth plan. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Turning to the broader situation within the Africa Group, 
Minister Ayittey noted that most African states were in favor of the 
Accord, and like Ghana, were attracted to the Accord's pledges of 
climate change mitigation and adaptation assistance for Africa and 
the least developed countries.  In particular, the Accord's 
provisions on technology transfer in the areas of climate change and 
renewable energy fit well with on-going efforts to foster broader 
collaboration on science and technology issues within Africa, to get 
African countries to include science and technology development in 
their national budgets, and the recent creation of a Climate Change 
Office at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa. 
 
¶5. (SBU) However, the association and opt-in procedures of the 
Accord were confusing to some countries, Minister Ayittey noted, 
while bureaucratic delays in others meant that foreign ministries 
had been slow to share information with the "sector ministries" that 
have the lead role on questions of climate change and the 
environment.  She predicted that by mid-2010, the vast majority of 
African states would associate with the Accord, but the UN Framework 
Convention on Climate Change Secretariat could speed up the process 
by appointing an envoy to make the rounds of African states and drum 
up support for the Accord.  In that regard, she suggested that 
former UNSYG Kofi Annan, a vocal advocate on issues of climate 
justice, would be a good choice, and would be supported not only by 
Ghana, but also by AMCEN (the African Ministerial Conference on the 
Environment). 
 
---------------------- 
Newmont Chemical Spill 
---------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Minister Ayittey shared a copy of the GOG report from the 
recently completed investigation of the chemical spill at the 
Newmont Gold Mining Corporation's Ahafo gold mine, which led to the 
imposition of a $5 million compensation penalty on Newmont (REF C). 
She said that the investigation had been fair and transparent. 
Newmont executives had recently met with her and repeated their 
objections to the report's conclusion that the company had initially 
attempted to "cover up" the incident.  She had told the company that 
they were free to take a reservation or lodge an objection to that 
particular conclusion. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that Newmont had publicly stated its 
desire to be a good corporate citizen in Ghana, conceded it had 
poorly responded to the chemical spill, and intended to pay the $5 
 
ACCRA 00000107  002 OF 002 
 
 
million penalty.  The Ambassador also noted that artisanal gold 
miners in Ghana appeared to be causing environmental damage and were 
poisoning lands and bodies of water where they operated.  Minister 
Ayittey agreed that artisanal miners had a big impact on the 
environment and public health, and they should be organized, 
licensed and regulated.  She said that she would be touring 
artisanal mining sites in Ghana's Eastern Region in March 2010 to 
collect more information about artisanal mining practices and to 
consider environmental enforcement options on the miners. 
 
-------------------------- 
Science Libraries in Ghana 
-------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Minister Ayittey noted that her ministry was preparing a 
written proposal regarding the establishment of three modern science 
libraries in Ghana, to help encourage an interest in science among 
primary and secondary students, and ultimately help build a strong 
core of young scientists, technicians and engineers to aid in the 
country's development.  She expressed hope that the U.S. would be 
able to support the initiative.  The Ambassador said the embassy 
would consider the initiative once the written proposal was ready, 
and noted that the idea might be of interest to the Carnegie 
Foundation, or another U.S. NGO active in library and educational 
public-private partnerships. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶9. (SBU) Ghana's quick association with the Copenhagen Accord and 
preparation of a low carbon growth plan clearly demonstrates that 
the country is positioning itself in the vanguard of African states 
on climate change issues.  Ghana will also play a useful role in 
encouraging others within the Africa Group and AU to associate with 
the Accord.  The suggestion of an envoy, such as Kofi Annan, to drum 
up support for the Accord within Africa, is also worth serious 
consideration by the UNFCC Secretariat in Bonn. 
 
TEITELBAUM