GEN WARD MEETS WITH NEW DEFENSE MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 001819 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2017 TAGS: MOPS MASS PGOV PREL GH SUBJECT: GEN WARD MEETS WITH NEW DEFENSE MINISTER Classified By: AMBASSADOR PAMELA E. BRIDGEWATER FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On August 6, newly installed Minister of Defense Albert Kan-Dapaah told General William E. Ward, Deputy Commander of European Command and Presidential Designate for Commander of Africa Command (AFRICOM) that he looks forward to increased cooperation with the U.S. In a separate meeting, Lt. Gen. Joseph Danquah, Chief of the Defense Staff for the Ghana Armed Forces, told Gen. Ward that he welcomes the establishment of AFRICOM but said that African countries should handle African conflicts. Local media were present throughout each meeting causing GOG officials to say little of substance. Septel will cover Gen. Ward,s meeting with President Kufuor. End summary. ¶2. (C) On August 6, General William E. Ward, Deputy Commander of European Command and Presidential Designate for Commander of Africa Command (AFRICOM) met separately with General Danquah and newly installed Minister of Defense Albert Kan-Dapaah. Local media was present throughout each brief meeting. Gen. Ward told Danquah and Kan Dapaah that his mission in Ghana this time is to reinforce the strong relations that exist between the U.S. and Ghana. He also thanked both officials for Ghana,s continued participation in peacekeeping efforts across Africa and the world. Ward pointed to Ghana,s roles as African Union (AU) Chairman and UNSC seat as examples of Ghana,s leadership. ¶3. (C) Minister of Defense Albert Kan-Dapaah, the former Minister of Interior, told Gen. Ward that he hopes for close cooperation with the U.S. Kan-Dapaah pointed out that it was his first day on the job as Minister of Defense, but he listed his top priority in his new posting as increasing the capacity of the GAF. He went on to say that the economy must improve in order to move forward adding that the only item slowing down economic development is the lack of peace. (Comment: Numerous other items including corruption, fraud, and bureaucracy also slow economic development. End comment.) Kan-Dapaah also pointed out that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) generally &work.8 Therefore, he said, unlike other Ghanaian ministers, he will be free to concentrate on larger goals. Other Ministers, he said, must spend considerable time just attempting to move their respective bureaucracies. ¶4. (C) Danquah, for his part, thanked General Ward for his visit to Ghana and said that he is happy to increase cooperation with the U.S. Danquah said the GAF has been active peacekeepers but that this work presents challenges. He said that Ghana is happy to host the Limited Objective Exercises and he looks forward to more cooperation in the future. Danquah also said that he is looking forward to the establishment of AFRICOM, but added that African armed forces should solve African problems. Speaking of Cote d,Ivoire, Danquah said that African countries had the will to serve as peacekeepers but not the means. He then mentioned the possibility of some sort of logistics base being constructed which African countries could draw from in order to assist in their deployments. ¶5. (U) Note: Local media were present throughout each meeting allowing for little of substance to be covered. Septel will cover Gen. Ward,s meeting with President Kufuor. End Note. ¶6. (U) This cable has been cleared by EUCOM POLAD Mary C. Yates. BRIDGEWATER