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Ghana - General Acheampong
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1555809
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Ghana - General Acheampong
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Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders (Ford Administration)
Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders
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1976-04-30
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "Ghana - General Acheampong"
of the National Security Adviser's Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders
Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives
collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are
in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations
are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is
subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
sex
OF STATE
Department of State
UNITED STATES of AMERICA
EYES ONLY-DIRECT
ACT
SECRET
N00096
PAGE @1 ACCRA 00182 01 OF A2 091659Z
46
ACTION NOOS-66
INFO OCT-01 IS0-00 1001 W
035126
D 5913357 JAN 75
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 662
S 5 RET SECTION 1 OF 2 ACCRA 2182
NODIS
DEPARTMENT PASS AS DESIRED
EO 11652 GOS
TAGS: PFOR AO GH
sua: LETTER FROM SHAIRMAN ACHEAMPONG TO PRESIDENT FORD
REF: STATE 1377
THERE FOLLOWS THE TEXT OF A LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN ACHEAMPONG TO
PRESIDENT FORD, DATED JANUARY B, DELIVERED JANUARY 9,
IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER CONTAINED IN REFTEL,
ORIGINAL BEING POUCHED JANUARY 10 TO S/S UNDER
REGISTRY NUMBER 1913537
DUOTE
DEAR MP. PRESIDENT
IT I5 THOUGHTFUL OF YOU TO SHARE YOUR VIERS ON THE ANGOLAM
SITUATION WITH MF. THROUGH YOU LETTER OF 3 JANUARY, 1976 WHICH
AMBASSADOR SHIRLEY TEMPLE BLACK KINDLY PRESENTED TO ME.
I 419 EQUALLY OF THE VIEW THAT AT THIS CRITICUL JUNCTURE IN AFRICAN
AFFAIRS RE SHOUL LEAVE NO ROOM FOR MIGUNDEASTANDING or OUR
RESPECTIVE POSITIONS, AND IT IS THUS HITH FRANKNESS SAD IN 4
SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP AND CO-OPERATION THAT I NOW PRESENT NY
FORD
THOUGHTS TO YOU ni. THIS TSSUE, IT IS MY FERVENT HOPE THAT
&
THE VIEWS PMICH I OFFER VILL WEIGHT VERY GREATLY NITH YOU IN
SECRET
GERALD
rvre Ciry AGREET bla 3/5/04
NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Digitized from Box 2 of the NSA Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
DEPARTMENT
of
STATE
Department of State
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TELEGRAM
EYES
ONLY
proper
SECRET
PAGE 02 ACCRA 00182 01 OF 02 0916507
S
THE FUTURE POLICIES AND CONDUCT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICAN IN AFRICA.
THE STRUGGLE FOR AFRICAN FREEDOM AND INCEPENDENCE HAS BEEN
WAGED INTENSELY SINCE THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, IN THIS
STRUGGLE, WHATEVER HER PARTICULAR OBJECTIVES, THE SOVIET UNION HAS
CONSISTENTLY TENDERED HER MORAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT. WE HAVE
UNDERSTODO THE HISTORICAL FACTORS THAT HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE
SOVIET UNION 70 OFFER SUCH SUPPORT. BY THE SAME TOKEN WE HAVE UNDER-
STOOD THE CONSTRAINTS, LARGELY BASED ON HER ALLIANCE WITH THE COLONIA
L
POHERS, THAT HAD PREVENTED THE UNITED STATES FROM GIVING ACTIVE
SUPPORT TO THIS STRUGGLE, YET WE HAVE ALL ALONG ALSO RECOGNISED
THAT AMERICA'S REVOLUTIONARY ANTECEDENTS MAKE HER PEOPLE
SYMPATHIZERS OF OUR CAUSE AND NATURAL ALLIES OF THE AFRICAN
PEOPLE.
AS A GOLOBAL POWER I FULLY APPRECIATE THE CONCERN OF THE UNITED
STATES WITH EVENTS IN AFRICA, AS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD,
THUS WE CONSIDER YOUR ANXIETY OVER THE UNSTABLE SITUATION IN
ANGOLA AS LEGITIMATE. GHANA HOWEVER DOES NOT SHARE YOUR
CONCLUSION THAT THE SOVIET UNIONIN CO-OPERATION WITH CUBA
ARE TRYING TO IMPOSE A GOVERNMENT ON THE PEOPLE OF ANGOLA
BY FORCE OF ARMS,
BOTH THE SOVIET UNION AND CUBA HAVE BEEN HELPING THE
FREEDOM FIGHTERS OF ANGOLA IN THEIR LIBERATION STRUGGLE AGAINST THE
PORTUGUESE FASCISTS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND GHANA AS 4 MEMBER
OF THE DAU LIBERATION COMMITTEE, HAD ADVOCATED FOR AND SANCTIONED
THIS SUPPORT. IT WOULD WEITHER BE JUST, CORRECT. NOR EASY FOR us
TO LABLE SUCH SUPPORT TODAY AS INTERVENTION. HOWEVER, THIS
MUST NOT BE TAKEN TO MEAN OUR DEPARTURE FROM A CARDINAL
FOREIGN POLICY POSITION THAT NO FOREIGN TROOPS MUST
REMAIN ON AFRICAN SOIL. IT IS OUR VIEW, A VIEW MADE MANIFESTLY
CLEAR TO THE GOVERNMENTAL DELEGATION OF THE MPLA WHICH VISITED
GHANA RECENTLY, THAT AS SPEEDILY AS PRACTICIBLE SUCH FOREIGN
PRESENCE MUST BE REMOVED FROM ANGOLA. IT IS EQUALLY OUR POSITION,
ALSO MADE CLEAR TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ANGOLA, THAT NO PERVASIVE
FOREIGN INFLUENCE SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN THE TERRITORY NOR SHOULD
STRATEGIC FACILITIES UF SNY KIND (:E PERMITTED A FOREIGN
POWER, SINCE THIS MOULD Rt. INIMICAL TO THE INTEREST of AFRICA
SECRET
EVES JURICT
NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Digitized from Box 2 of the NSA Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
DEPARTMENT
8
STATE
Department of State
UNITED STATES of
EYES ONLY -DIREGI
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SECRET
PAGE 03 ACCRA 00182 01 OF 02 09165gZ
AS A WHOLE AND OFFER TEMPTATION TO OTHERS TO COUNTER SUCH
PREFERMENT.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, GHANA HAS DONE HER BEST IN SUPPORT OF THE
OAU SPONSORED EFFORTS TO BRING THE WARRING FACTIONS IN ANGOLA
TOGETHER. THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE UNTIL NOW HAS NOT BEEN
FOR HANT OF EFFORT OR GOODMILL. BUT OUR OWN HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE,
THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND THE PRESE CE IN THE
ANDOLAN SITUATION OF RECOGNIZABLE ACUTE DIVISIVE FACTORS NAVE MADE
IT CLEAR TO us THAT IT WOULD BE FUTILE TO CONTINUE TO HOPE
FOR A COALITION GOVERNMENT OF EQUALS DRAWN FROM THE MPLA, FNLA
AND UNITA. FURTHERMORE, IT WAS AN UNTENABLE POSITION
TO MAINTAIN THAT A SOVEREIGN STATE OF ANGOLA EXISTED BUT WITH.
OUT à RECOGNIZABLE GOVERNMENT. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE, AND AFTER A VERY
CAREFUL EVALUATION OF EVENTS, WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE
ONLY WAY TO END THE FRATRICIDAL WAR AND TO ENCOURAGE RAPID
RECONCILIATION WAS TO GIVE GHANAIS RECOGNITION TC THAT MOVEMENT
WHICH, IN OUR CONSIDERED OPINION, WAS MOST INCLINED TO PROMOTE
THE INTEREST OF ALL THE ANGOLAN PEOPLE, MAINTAIN THE
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, INDEPENDENCE AND POLITICAL
NEUTRALITY OF ANGOLA, AND WHICH HAS BOTH THE CAPACITY TO ASSERT
AUTHORITY OVER THE TERRITORY AND DEMONSTRATE MAGNANIMITY IN
RECONCILING WITH THE OTHER MOVEMENTS.
BLACK
EYES ONLY
SECRET
LIBRARY
NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Digitized from Box 2 of the NSA Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
a STATE
Department of State
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
EYES ONLY-DIRECT
TELEGRAM
SECRET
NOD100
PAGE 01 ACCRA 00182 02 OF 02 0917796
S
44
ACTION NODS-00
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 1001 W
035264
0 3913357 JAN 76
FM AMERBASSY ACCRA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 663
SECRET
SECTION 2 OF 2 ACCRA 0182
RECIDED
NODIS
AS FAR AS THE SOUTH AFRICAN AGGRESSION IS CONCERNED, GHANA
CANNOT ACCEPT FOR AMOMENT THE IDEA OF ANY SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL
INTEREST IN THE INDEPENDENT AND SOVEREIGN STATE OF AHGOLA. IN
THIS ERA OF ENLIGHTENMENT IT IS UNTHINKABLE TO CONCEIVE THAT
THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF ANOTHER STATE CAN BE VIOLATED IN SUCH
A MANNER. APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA HAS NO INTEREST TO
SAFEGUARD IN ANGOLA AND WE FIND IT UNTENABLE TO LINK SOVIET
AND CUBAN SUPPORT FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF ANGOLAN FREEDOM
AND INDEPENDENCE WITH THE INVASION AND AGGRESSION STAGED BY A
NATION WHICH IS THE ACCLAIMED FOE OF ALL AFRICA. LET ME STATE
VERY DELIBERATELY THAT SOUTH AFRICA'S AGGRESSION IF NOT
TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY COULD LEAD TO A CONFRONTATION WITH TROOPS
FROM INDEPENDENT AFRICA.
MR. PRESIDENT, WRITING TO YOU AS A FRIEND AND THE RESPECTED LEADER
OF THE GREAT UNITED STATES, I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT NO AFRICAN
STATE HAS BECOME A SATELLITE OF ANOTHER STATE UPON ATTAINMENT
OF INDEPENDENCE AND NO FOREIGN POWER CAN CLAIM TO HAVE ALL-
PERVASIVE INFLUENCE OVER ANY INDEPENDENT AFRICAN STATE. THE
HISTORICAL LESSON SHOULD BE CLEAR, INDEPENDENT AFRICAN STATES
WOULD SEEK FRIENSHIP AND CO-OPERATION FROM ALL QUARTERS BUT
NOT SERVITURE. WITH THIS UNDERSTANDING THEN, I WOULD SUGGEST
THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT HE OVERLY
INFLUENCED BY COLD WAR FACTORS AS TO ANTICIPATE SOVIET PREDOMINANCE
IN THE NEW ANGOLA. RATHER, ITS ROLE SHOULD BE TO SUPPORT THE LF-
GITIMATE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT AND TO USE ITS EMORAOUS INFLUENCE
TOWARDS RECONCILIATION AND PEACE UNDER THE BANNER OF THE MPLA.
If SUCH 4 COURSE IS PURSUED, I MM CERTAIN THOT GOODWILL
SECRET
FORD
EVES ONLY-DIRECT
LIBRA
NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Digitized from Box 2 of the NSA Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
DEPARTMENT
as
STATE
Department of State
UNITED STATES of AMERICA
EYES ONLY-DIRECT
TELEGRAM
SEFRET
S
PAGE a2 ACCRA 00182 02 OF 02 0917012
AND FRIENDSHIP WILL FORM THE BASIS OF INGOLAN-US RELATIONS FOR
A LONG TIME TO COME. AND THIS, BELIEVE ME, IS THE
SINCEREST WISH OF GHANA,
YOU CAN REGT ASSURED THAT OUR RECOGNITION OF THE MPL; GOVERNMENT
IS NOT AN END ITSELF. THE GHANA DELEGATION TO THE NAU SUMMIT
MEETING ON ANGOLA WILL WORK ACTIVELY FOR A SOLUTION THAT
WILL LEAD TO THE EVENTUAL REMOVAL OF ALL FOREIGN TRODPS FROM
ANGULA. FOR THE INTEGRATION OF ALL FACTIONS INTO THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA, AND FOR
PEACE IN THAT TROUBLED LAND,
LET ME REITERATE MY APPRECIATE OF YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS IN
OPENING UP SUCH CURRESPONDENCE WITH ML, AND TO EXPRESS THE TRUST
THAT THROUGH SUCH EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, WHICH I KOPE WOULD CONTINUE,
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SERVE NOT ONLY THE INTEREST OF OUR
PEOPLE BUT CONTRIBUTE OUR SHARE TO THE EVOLUTION FO A WORLD OF
PEACE, FRIENDSHIP, AND PROSPERITY.
YOURS SINCERELY,
COL. I.K. ACHEAMPONG
HEAD OF STATE AND CHAIRMAN OF
THE SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL.
UNQUOTE
BLACK
EYES ONLY-DIRECT
SECRET
NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Digitized from Box 2 of the NSA Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
2
466
COPY
OP IMMED
SVA134
DE RUTAGN #3252 1211515
0 3015002 APR 76
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2357
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA IMMEDIATE 3063
6
0
I
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE ACCRA 3252
PLEASE PASS SECRETARY'S PARTY
MONROVIA FOR AMBASSADOR SHIRLEY TEMPLE BLACK
E. O, 11652: N/A
TAGS: OVIP (KISSINGER, HENRY A.) GH
SUBJ: LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM GENERAL ACHEAMPONG
REF: ACCRA 3251
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF LETTER FROM GHANA HEAD OF STATE, GENERAL
ACHEAMPONG TO THE PRESIDENT:
QUOTE: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,
I MUST THANK YOU VERY SINCERELY FOR YOUR LETTER OF 22ND APRIL,
1975, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE THEM PROJECTED VISIT OF
DR. KISSINGER, YOUR SECRETARY OF STATE, TO GHANA AND OTHER
AFRICAN COUNTRIES.
I HAD VERY MUCH LOOKED FORWARD TO THIS VISIT FIRST BECAUSE OF THE
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY IT PRESENTED FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR
BILATERAL RELATIONS AND ALSO FOR THE CLARIFICATION OF THE
VIEWS OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES, WHICH HAD DIFFERED ON OCCASIONS,
ON THE PROBLEMS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. YOUR LETTER HAD INTRIGUED
ME VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF YOUR INTIMATION THAT THE VISIT OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD MARK A NEW DEPARTURE IN THE AFRICAN
POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES. YOUR REQUEST THAT I GIVE (SIC)
COUNSEL AND ADVICE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON AFRICAN AFFAIRS
WAS ONE THAT I HAD INTENDED TO HONOUR TO THE FULL.
IT IS THEREFORE TO ME PERSONALLY A MOST DISAPPOINTING OCCURRENCE
THAT I SHOULD IN THE VERY WEEK OF THE IMPENDING VISIT BE
FORCED BY ILLNESS TO PUT OFF ALL ENGAGEMENTS, DESPITE THIS
FACT, I WAS HOPING THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE VISIT
TO GO ON IN THE EXPECTATION THAT I WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH
BY THE TIME THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVED TO RECEIVE HIM
PERSONALLY. UNFORTUNATELY, MY SITUATION WORSENED SOMEHOW AND
ON THE 27TH OF APRIL, IT BECAME OBVIOUS TO ME THAT MY
EXPECTATIONS REGARDING MY HEALTH WERE MISPLACED. YOUR AMBASSADOR,
WHSR COMMENT
SCONCROFT, HYLAND, MCFARLANE, HORAN
RECALLED
PSN
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DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12968, SEC. 3.5
STATE DEPT, GUIDELINES
BY
We
NARA NATE 3/5/04
Digitized from Box 2 of the NSA Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
COPY
MR. PRESIDENT, CANNOT DENY THE FACT THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN
TO THE OFFICE SINCE THE EASTER HOLIDAYS.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO LET THE VISIT GO ON ALL THE SAME
so THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE COULD BE RECEIVED AND
DISCUSSIONS HELD WITH HIM AT A LOWER BUT APPROPRIATE LEVEL.
DISAPPOINTING THOUGH THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN TO ME PERSONALLY,
I HAD BEEN PREPARED TO LET THE VISIT GO ON UNDER SUCH
CIRCUMSTANCES,
SINCE THE TIME THE VISIT TO GHANA BY DR. KISSINGER WAS ANNOUNCED,
HOWEVER, THERE HAD BEEN MOUNTING PROTESTS IN OUR NEWSPAPERS
AND WE HAD CONTINUED TO RECEIVE INDICATIONS OF POSSIBLE PUBLIC
DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND DISRUPTION
OF PUBLIC ORDER, IT WAS FOR THESE REASONS THAT MY GOVERNMENT
HAD NOT ITSELF ANNOUNCED THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE VISIT AND THE
PROGRAMME THAT HAD BEEN DRAWN UP BUT WAS WAITING FOR THE
LAST OSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEM PUBLIC. WE WERE
CONVINCED THAT WE COULD CONTAIN SUCH PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS
EVEN THOUGH THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN EMBARRASSING TO BOTH OUR
TWO GOVERNMENTS AND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. BY LATE MORNING
OF THE 27TH OF APRIL, HOWEVER, I RECEIVED A REPORT ON THE
SECURITY SITUATION CONNECTED WITH THE VISIT WHICH INDICATED
RAPID DETERIORATION AND WHICH CONVINCED ME THAT IN ORDER TO
ENSURE THE SECURITY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND TO MAINTAIN
PUBLIC ORDER DURING HIS VISIT, STRONG DETACHMENTS OF RIOT
POLICE AND OTHER SECURITY PERSONNEL WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE
BROUGHT IN FROM THE REGIONS TO REINFORCE THE CONTINGENTS IN
ACCRA. THE TIME WAS TOO SHORT TO TAKE ANY SUCH ACTION, MY
PRESENCE ON THE SCENE HOULD HAVE CERTAINLY REMOVED ANY POSSIBLE
EMBAR ASSMENT TO OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS, BUT I WAS NOT AROUND.
THE R THER GRIM IMPRESSION THAT ANY INCIDENTS MIGHT HAVE GIVEN
TO THE VISIT WAS ONE I FELT COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED.
IT WAS THIS COMBINATION OF, FIRSTLY, MY OWN INABILITY TO
RECEI I THE SECRETARY OF STATE PERSONALLY BECAUSE I WAS
INDIS-08ED, AND TO HONOUR YOU THROUGH HIM IN THE LIGHT OF THE
CONTENTS OF YOUR LETTER; AND, SECONDLY, THE VEXED SECURITY
SITUATION WHICH BECAUSE OF MY ABSENCE FROM THE SCENE POSED
A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT DICTATED THE MOST REGRETTABLE
DECISION TO CALL OFF THE VISIT,
MR. PRESIDENT, YOU SHOULD BE MORE AWARE THAN ANY OTHER, THAT
THE GOVERNMENT OF GHANA CANNOT BE SUBJECTED TO PRESSURES FROM
ANY FOREIGN QUARTER, AND WERE THIS EVEN POSSIBLE, THE BILATERAL
RELATIONS BETWEEN GMANA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE SUCH THAT
WE WOULD NOT COUNTENANCE INTERFERENCE BY ANY THIRD STATE, THE
SPECULATIONS THAT PRESSURES FROM FOREIGN SOURCES WERE EITHER
THE MAIN REASONS OR FORMED PART OF THE REASONS FOR THE CANCELLAT-
ION OF THE GHANA VISIT ARE TOTALLY UNFOUNDED.
BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THAT THE DECISION TO CANCEL THE VISIT
WAS NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY AND THAT IT WAS ONE OF OFFICIAL ACTIONS
THAT I HAVE TAKEN (ITH GREAT RELUCTANCE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE
RECALLED
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Digitized from Box 2 of the NSA Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
COPY
IT TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF GHANA-AMERICAN RELATIONS FOR
SUCH A DECISION TO BE TAKEN, HOWEVER DISTASTEFUL IT WAS TO ME
PERSONALLY AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE GOVERNMENT OF GHANA.
I KNOW THE GREAT EFFORTS WHICH YOUR ABLE AND HARD-WORKING
AMBASSADOR TO GHANA, MRS. SHIRLEY TEMPLE BLACK, WHOSE PRESENCE
IN GHANA I PERSONALLY, AND ALL MY COLLEAGUES OF THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL VALUED (SIC) VERY MUCH,
HAD MADE TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE VISIT OF THE SECRETARY
OF STATE. I COULD THEREFORE IMAGINE HER PERSONAL DISAPPOINTMENT
AT THE SUDDEN TURN OF EVENTS AND I WOULD HAVE VERY MUCH
WISHED TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO HER PERSONALLY AND EXPLAIN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES, AS I HAVE LEARNED THAT SHE HAS ALREADY LEFT
FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH HER GOVERNMENT, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL
IF MY REASSURANCES COULD BE CONVEYED TO HER, I PERSONALLY
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HER SOON IN GHANA WHERE SHE IS ALWAYS
SURE OF A WARM WELCOME.
I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, HIS
EXCELLENCY MR. S.E, QUARM, WHO HAD BEEN CALLED HOME TO ASSIST
WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS OF THE VISIT, TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON
IMMEDIATELY AND TO PERSONALLY HAND OVER THIS LETTER TO YOU
AND CONVEY MY HIGHEST PERSONAL REGARDS AND DEEPEST REGRETS
FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE AND EMBARRASSMENT THAT THE
CANCELLATION OF THE VISIT HAS CAUSED TO YOU PERSONALLY,
THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
WITH SENTIMENTS OF MY HIGHEST ESTEEM.
SINCERELY,
(SIGNED)
GENERAL I.K. ACHEAMPONG
HEAD OF STATE AND CHAIRMAN OF
THE SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL
30TH APRIL 1976,
UNQUOTE.
LINEHAN
BT
RECALLED
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