GOG REQUEST FOR USG SUPPORT FOT GHANAIAN CANDITATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000590

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2016
TAGS: PREL ECON EINV ECPS GH
SUBJECT: GOG REQUEST FOR USG SUPPORT FOT GHANAIAN CANDITATE
FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION

REF: ACCRA 1389

Classified By: Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater for Reasons 1.5 (b & d)


1. (U) Summary: Post has received a dipnote from the MFA
asking for USG support of Ghana's candidate for Deputy
Secretary General of the International Telecommunications

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Union (ITU). The full text of the note is included in para

2. Post reccomends against/against supporting this request
(see para 3). End Summary.


2. (U) Begin text of MFA dipnote dated February 28, 2006:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic of Ghana
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States
of America and has the honor to inform the latter that the
Government of the Republic of Ghana has decided to present
the candidature of Major (rtd) John Ray Kwabena Tandoh for
election to the post of Deputy Secretary-General of the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU),at the elections
to be held during the Plenipotentiary Conference of the
organization in Antalya, Turkey, in November 2006.

Ghana attaches great importance to the International
Telecommunication Union and the challenges of applying
information and Communications for socio-economic development
in the light of the wide divide that exists between
developing and developed worlds, between the urban and rural
sectors of society, and between the "haves" and "have-nots."

Ghana has consistently worked to strengthen the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and with many other Member
Countries, have supported a central role for the Union in the
implementation of the Plan of Action of the World Summit on
the information Society (WSIS).

Major (Rtd) J.R. K. Tandoh has a wide experience in the area
of telecommunications and in Internal organizations. He is
the Head of the National Communications authority and form
1999 to 2001 was a Member of the ITU Radio Regulations Board
(RRB),Geneva.

The Government of the Republic of Ghana would very much
appreciate the invaluable support the Government of The
United States of America for the candidature of Major (rtd)
J.R. K. Tandoh for election to the post of Deputy
Secretary-General of the international Telecommunication

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Union (ITU). This Curriculum Vitae is attached.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana
avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy to
the United States of America the assurances of its highest
consideration.

End Text.


3. (C) Comment: As Chairman of Ghana's National
Communications Authority (NCA) he repeatedly blocked and
delayed the resolution of Western Wireless International's
dispute with the GoG (reftel). Working-level contacts within
the NCA confirmed this in conversations with EconOff after
the dispute was resolved. During his tenure, Tandoh has
successfully used the NCA to block, rather than resolve
complaints brought against the parastatel Ghana Telecom by
competitors in the IT, fixed-line, and mobile telephone
sectors. He is also widely rumored to among the most corrupt
GoG officials. End Comment.
BRIDGEWATER