VZCZCXRO4089
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #0097 0331224
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021224Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8859
INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC 0119
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 0730
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ACCRA 000097 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB/TPP/MTA FOR CRAFT 
WHITEHOUSE FOR USTR; ATTN: KIRK, SHARK 
FAS FOR ITP, MTND 
USDOC FOR ITA 
DEPT OF TREASURY FOR YUAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ECON EINV ETRD GH
SUBJECT: DOHA DEMARCHE: GHANA PREFERS MULTILATERAL DISCUSSIONS 
 
REF: STATE 123787 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY.  Econoffs met with GOG trade officials to discuss the 
recent WTO Ministerial Conference (Reftel).  Director of 
Multilateral, Regional and Bilateral Trade Clement Nyaaba 
appreciated Post initiating the conversation and agreed that the 
impasse at the conference was "disturbing."  He expressed his desire 
to see multilateral talks happen between now and the 2011 
Ministerial Conference, as opposed to bilateral talks, to make the 
conference more effective.  Remarking on the Doha Development Round 
meeting, Nyaaba asked which agricultural text should be used as a 
basis for talks, adding that the latest text introduced was not 
necessarily the best one.  Post also transmitted USTR's request for 
a TIFA meeting during the week of April 11, and Nyaaba said he would 
discuss the date with Minister Tetteh.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  Econoffsmet the Director of Multilateral, Regional and 
Bilateral Trade in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Clement 
Nyaaba.  He affirmed the positive role of the WTO, particularly the 
Aid for Trade program.  In future negotiations, he wishes to see 
increased market access for Ghanaian goods and a greater commitment 
from the United States, though he did not offer any specifics on 
these issues.  In response to the USG request for help in getting a 
Doha agreement with the G-77, he noted that countries like Ghana do 
not have adequate leverage over rapidly growing economies like India 
and China.  Nyaaba appreciated Post initiating the conversation and 
agreed that the impasse at the conference was "disturbing."  He 
favored WTO members holding multilateral discussions in advance of 
the next Ministerial Conference in order to identify a common 
starting point for negotiations.  Nyaaba preferred a multilateral 
forum to the bilateral meetings that are currently taking place 
because they offer greater transparency.  He remarked that he was 
anxious of bilateral solutions being imposed upon Ghana without GOG 
input. 
 
¶3.  Nyaaba said the Doha Development Round (DDR) needed "new life." 
Remarking on the roadmap meeting, he asked where countries were 
supposed to restart from, and which agriculture text they should 
use, with a caveat that the latest text introduced was not 
necessarily the best one. 
 
¶4.  Post and the GOG have been trying to arrange a date for Trade 
and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) discussions.  Post 
transmitted USTR's proposal for the week of April 11.  Nyaaba was 
optimistic that the dates would be acceptable, but said that he 
would need to confirm them with the Minister Tetteh.  Post suggested 
an advance meeting to review the agenda and prepare for a more 
meaningful discussion.  Nyaaba agreed and expressed interest in 
maintaining dialogue.  He also said that he has convened a TIFA 
National Implementation Committee consisting of GOG economic 
agencies and relevant members of Parliament. 
 
¶5.  Post raised the issue of trade barriers in West Africa and 
between Nigeria and Ghana as a concern of U.S. firms operating in 
Ghanaian free zones.  Nyaaba agreed that trade barriers were a 
problem, and said the GOG is actively working within ECOWAS and in 
their bilateral relationship with Nigeria to enhance trade 
opportunities, and that President Mills himself has engaged with 
Nigeria on the subject.  He mentioned an ECOWAS investment protocol 
that "no one wants to implement."  In spite of the many difficulties 
they have encountered, he said the GOG now "has a road map" to a 
resolution.  He also agreed with Econoffs that GOG Free Zone rules 
of origin "don't make sense."  (COMMENT: Washington may want to 
consider adding this to the TIFA agenda if there is agency interest 
in reviewing GOG rules of origin for Free Zone companies.  END 
COMMENT.) 
 
¶6.  COMMENT: Although still an office director, Nyaaba has recently 
returned from years serving as the WTO officer in the Ghanaian 
mission to Geneva.  Ghana still has a shallow bench when it comes to 
trade policy, and Nyaaba is a key player in the formulation of GOG 
trade policy.  END COMMENT. 
 
TEITELBAUM