MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER BUSIA (BOO-SEE-AH) OF GHANA THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1971 4:00 P.M. - 30 MINUTES OVAL OFFICE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-279-1-16-4
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: June 15, 2010
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: November 3, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

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CONFIDENTIAL
THE WHITE HOUSE (34261)
WASHINGTON (33055)
November 3, 1971
O
MEMORANDUM FOR; THE PRESID pUSID iN HAS SM ? r
LI-
HENRY A. KISSINGER
SUBJECT: Meeting with Prime Minister Busia (Boo-SEE-ah)
of Ghana
Thursday, November 4, 1971
4:00 p. in. - 30 minutes
Oval Office
I. PURPOSE
To demonstrate support for one of Africa's most responsible, moderate,
and friendly governments, and to thank Busia for Ghana's support on the
Chinese Representation issue. Busia knows that the appointment might
otherwise not have been possible.
H. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS, PRESS PLAN
A. Background: Busia urgently requested the meeting in a good, short
letter to you (Tab 4). He promised "not to waste your time" and
said he wanted to talk with you in confidence about two things:
Ghana's political and economic situation, and "foreign activities
in Africa" which he believes you will find of "relevance to American
policies in Africa. " Busia knows the US well, and once taught at
Northwestern University. He has met you twice, having called on
you in October 1969 and attended your Chiefs of State Dinner last
fall. He is on his way to a State Visit to Mexico. By the time he
sees you, Busia will have been the guest at a reception given by
Senator Gale McGee, and a luncheon hosted by Secretary Rogers.
.(Further Background at Tab 1).
B. Participants:
Prime Minister Busia of Ghana
General Haig, NSC
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
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CONFIDENTIAL
C. Press Plan: There will be photo opportunities at the beginning of
the meeting, and as you escort Busia to his auto.
III. ACTION SEQUENCE
When escorting President Busia from the Oval Office, you may wish to
greet Ghana's Foreign Minister, Mr. Ofori-Atta, Ambassador Debrah,
and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, David Newsom,
who will be waiting in the Cabinet Room.
. Attachments
Tab 1
Tab 2
Tab 3
- Further Background
- Talking Points
- Memorandum from Secretary Rogers to President,
Nov. 2.
Tab 4
- Prime Minister Busia's letter to the President, October 13.
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Further Background
Busia's (and Ghana's) major problem is to make a moderate democratic
government acceptable as the successor to Nkrumah's colorful but
disastrous totalitarianism. Nkrumah left the country in sad shape, and
burdened with a heavy debt. In order to get international support, Busia
has followed highly moderate policies, adopted two straight austerity
budgets, and refused to renege on the inherited debts. As a result, he is
subject to a good deal of domestic pressure and the success of Ghana's
experiment with responsible democratic government is in doubt.. Busia's
policies have, however, earned him the respect and support of the World
Bank, the IMF, etc.
He feels that time is now crucial. He seeks enhanced support from the
international institutions and from such friends as the US and the UK.
The US is supporting him with the IMF and the World Bank and the chances
are good that he will get at least part of what he wants. We also plan to
increase our own bilateral aid to Ghana within the limits imposed by our
resources.
Busia has also, at considerable political risk, been notably moderate on the
South African issue. He refuses to accept force as the only solution to the
racial problems of southern Africa and has gone on the record with the belief
that "dialogue" between black African states and South Africa should be given
a full trial.
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MEMORANDUM
CONFIDENTIAL
November 4, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENVE PRESIDENT HAS SFEN . + ?
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER .f7
,
Prime Minister
SUBJECT: Your Meeting with Ghana
Busia, 4:00 P. m. , November 4; Additional
Information
In his conversations with Secretary Rogers)Busia's primary concern
has been Ghana's heavy debt burden (inherited from the NKrumah
regime). You should know that, last night, Secretary Rogers promised
Busia that we would attempt to help him with his major European
creditors, stressing the importance we attach to the survival of
Ghana's experiment with moderate and democratic government.
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CONFIDENTIAL November 3, 1971
TALKING POINTS
Points You May Raise
Chirep - You should express appreciation for Ghana's support on this
issue. [Ever since independence, Ghana has voted against the
Important Question. This year, at our request, Busia personally
reversed that policy and supported us on all procedural votes, the
Important Question, and the attempt to split the Albanian Resolution
into the two parts. ]
Points Busia May Raise
1. The Political and Economic Situation in Ghana - He will stress the
necessity of getting Ghana's economy out of its depressed state, lest
his people become disenchanted with the responsible, moderate, and
democratic policies of his government. He will doubtless ask for
more aid from the United States, and for our assistance in persuading
the IMF and the World Bank to be more generous.
Suggested Response - Indicate our appreciation of the problems
Busia faces in following moderate and democratic policies, and his
need for support from the international community. Tell him that
we have and will continue to encourage the World Bank and the IMF
to be more forthcoming with Ghana, and that we hope to increase our
own aid program to the extent that our resources will permit us.
2. "Foreign Activities in Ghana and Africa Generally" and Their Significance
for the Western Democracies - We are not sure what Busia has in mind
here. He is known to feel that our support for Nkrumah's government
delayed its fall and Ghana's return to democratic government. He may,
therefore, suggest a sharper focus of Western assistance upon friendly
democratic governments in Africa. Or, he may wish to express con-
cern about growing communist influence in Africa (e. g., the major
Chinese Communist programs in Tanzania and Zambia, and the new
Chinese Communist aid offer to Ethiopia). His letter indicates that he
particularly relates this point to your policies as spelled out in the
Africa section of your 1971 Foreign Policy Report to the Congress.
3. Commodity Agreement on Cocoa. - Cocoa is Ghana's major export, and
we buy 39 percent of it. Prices are now very low. Attempts to work
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for a commodity agreement got out of hand at a meeting in Geneva
last September. Busia may press for American support on an
Agreement.
Suggested Response - We are for a cocoa agreement and have worked
toward one for years. To be workable, however, commodity agreements
must meet the needs of major consumers as well as producers. We are
prepared to be sympathetic and cooperative on the cocoa problem, but
we cannot accept an unrealistic agreement just for agreement's sake.
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rINZ01iiZill 1: nAo DEF e .
THE CASTLE
OSU, ACCRA
GHANA
PM. 0062
13th October 1971
I hope to arrive in Washington on 2nd November, and
will be in Washington on the 3rd and 4th of November. I shall
leave on the 5th of November to Mexico for an official visit.
I have two reasons for coming to spend two days in
Washington. One is the hope of seeing you. I shall be very
grateful if you can spare a few minutes of your very busy time
to see me in Washington either on the 3rd or 4th of November.
It is to me an urgent request, and I believe you will find that
I shall not waste your time. I shall talk with you privately and
in confidence about two things. One is the political and economic
situation of Ghana about which I went to London recently to talk
with Mr. Heath, the Prime Minister of Britain. The second is
that of foreign activities in Ghana and Africa generally, and the
significance of this for the democratic countries of the Western
world. I believe you will find this of some relevance to American
policies in Africa.
I read with interest your Message of February 25 on
American Foreign Policy and the broad applicability of the "Nixon
Doctrine" in Africa. I believe you will find what I have to say
not without significance.
With respectful and warm, personal regards,
Yours sincerely,
(K. A. BUSIA)
PRIME MINISTER OF GHANA
His Excellency
Mr. RICHARD NIXON,
President of the United States of
America,
The White House,
yiJ
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