Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ACCRA418
2006-02-15 15:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

DEMACHE DELIVERED: U.S. CANDIDATE FOR ICAO

Tags:  PREL EAIR CM GH MZ NI SF ICAO 
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UNCLAS ACCRA 000418 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

EB/TRN FOR BIRD MATTINGLEY
DAKAR FOR FAA ED JONES
MONTREAL FOR USICAO: CSERWER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAIR CM GH MZ NI SF ICAO
SUBJECT: DEMACHE DELIVERED: U.S. CANDIDATE FOR ICAO
SECRETARY GENERAL

SIPDIS

REF: STATE 14175

UNCLAS ACCRA 000418

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

EB/TRN FOR BIRD MATTINGLEY
DAKAR FOR FAA ED JONES
MONTREAL FOR USICAO: CSERWER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAIR CM GH MZ NI SF ICAO
SUBJECT: DEMACHE DELIVERED: U.S. CANDIDATE FOR ICAO
SECRETARY GENERAL

SIPDIS

REF: STATE 14175


1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Bridgewater discussed Mr.
Voss's candidacy with Secretary of the President, Ambassador
D.K. Osei during a meeting February 8 and mentioned again it
to President Kufuor after the meeting. FAA Regional Rep and
EconOff delivered reftel demarche to Ghana Civil Aviation
Authority (GCAA) Acting Director General Simon Adotey, and
Minister for Presidential Affair and Chief of Staff Kwadwo
Mpiani February 8. Post forwarded Secretary Minetta's letter
to President Kufuor February 9. GCAA is actively supporting
Mr. Voss' candidacy and has made several calls to Ghana's
ICAO Rep in Montreal to urge his support. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The Ambassador asked for GoG support of Mr. Voss'
candidacy during a meeting on February 8 with Secretary to
the President, Ambassador D.K. Osei, and mentioned it to the
President during a brief stop in his office after the
meeting. The Ambassador also passed talking points to
Ambassador Osei, who said he would pass them to the President
for consideration. The Ambassador forwarded Secretary
Minetta's letter to the President February 9.


3. (SBU) FAA Regional Rep Ed Jones and EconOff discussed Mr.
Voss' credentials and the need for a change in ICAO
leadership with Acting GCAA DG Simon Adotey February 8.
Adotey agreed on all points, and offered to accompany FAA Rep
and EconOff to the meeting with the Chief of Staff that day.
He also offered to call Dakar-based ICAO Regional
Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance Officer Mary
Obeng -- also a Ghanaian -- to ask for her active support.
Adotey said he felt the AU's decision to support the
incumbent was premature, and that Obeng might help convince
Capt. Kofi Kwakwa -- Ghana's ICAO Representative -- to advise
the Chief of Staff to support Voss.


4. (SBU) EconOff and FAA Rep met with Chief of Staff Mpiani
and Adotey on February 8. Mpiani read Voss' CV with
interest, commenting that he appeared "very well qualified."
Mpiani showed interest in the support Voss had from the UK
and other ICAO members, commenting that things at ICAO must
be problematic for Voss to "run against his own boss."
Adotey was frank with Mpiani, openly calling the current
Secretary General "incompetent" and noting that he had left

SIPDIS
several key ICAO positions unfilled for several years.
Mpiani said he would seek the advice of both ICAO Rep Kwakwa
and Mary Obeng before advising the President.


5. (SBU) In a telcon February 14, Adotey told EconOff he had
briefed GCAA Director General Nii Badoo on February 10 and
that Badoo agreed with his support for Voss. Badoo has
called the Chief of Staff's office to convey his support.
Adotey said both he and Mary Obeng had called ICAO Rep Kwakwa
and enlist his support. According to Adotey, Kwakwa agrees
that Voss is the best-qualified candidate, but will not vote
against the AU without specific instructions from the Chief
of Staff.


6. (SBU) Comment: Despite the strong support for Voss'
candidacy from Ghana's civil aviation experts, breaking with
the AU again so soon after casting a vote at the IAEA to
report Iran to the UNSC will be difficult for the GoG. Post
will stay in contact with GCAA and the Chief of Staff's
Office in the run up to the ICAO meeting. End Comment.
BRIDGEWATER