Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ACCRA1819
2007-08-29 16:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

GEN WARD MEETS WITH NEW DEFENSE MINISTER

Tags:  MOPS MASS PGOV PREL GH 
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VZCZCXRO3432
OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHAR #1819 2411645
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291645Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5183
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
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).

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