GHANA - ICAO CANDIDACY DEMARCHE DELIVERED; RECAP OF CIVIL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001916 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS USICAO/MONTREAL FOR LAURA FAUX-GABLE, IO/T FOR LAURA LUFTIG, EB/TRA/OTP FOR MEGAN WALKLET-TIGJE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD GH SENV SUBJECT: GHANA - ICAO CANDIDACY DEMARCHE DELIVERED; RECAP OF CIVIL AVIATION ACTIVITIES Ref: A) SECSTATE 83246; B) ACCRA 1333; C) SECSTATE 77572; D) ACCRA 1558; E) SECSTATE 115443; F) ACCRA 1802 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: EconOff delivered the third ICAO Assembly demarche requesting support for U.S. candidacy to the ICAO Council. Ghana's Minister of Aviation indicated support would be based on reciprocity as Ghana also seeks re-election. The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) inquired about the status of requests for assistance from the FAA and expressed disappointment about lack of funding for Ghana from Safe Skies for Africa. During a recent briefing by U.S. Air Force Europe (USAFE) on the "Gulf of Guinea Airspace Security and Capacity Building" initiative, Ghana offered to host a regional conference but was hesitant to commit to the initiative before technical and financial reports were delivered. END SUMMARY. -------------- ICAO -------------- ¶2. (U) EconOff and Dakar-based FAA Representative for Sub-Saharan Africa Moira Keane met with the following officials to seek support for U.S. re-election to Part I of the ICAO Council per ref E: Minister of Aviation, Gloria Akuffo; Ministry of Aviation Technical Director, Twumasi-Ankra Selby; Acting Director General of the GCAA, Simon Allotey; and Deputy Director of the GCAA, Willie Orhin. The Minister said she has received several such requests for support and will be passing them all on to colleagues within the Government of Ghana (GoG). She explained that Ghana generally expects reciprocal support for its candidacy for Part III of the ICAO Council, but would be guided by the common African positions determined by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC). She added that Ghana would not likely veer from U.S. positions provided they are practical for Ghana. ¶3. (SBU) The Minister could not confirm the list of delegates to the Assembly provided in ref D by Mr. Allotey, noting the President had not yet vetted it. ¶3. (U) Regarding ref C, Mr. Allotey indicated the common African position taken in Nairobi in August during the African Civil Aviation Commission meeting supported the U.S. position regarding the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme. African states will wait for the results of the ICAO study group before making further decisions. Ms. Keane provided materials to the GCAA to assist with working papers to be presented in Montreal. -------------- GHANA SEEKS ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The GCAA requested information about the status of its GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) proposal to FAA which Mr. Allotey said has not been supported for over five years and about which he has "basically given up." Ms. Keane suggested that Ghana resubmit the proposal soon to the air traffic services department while the department is revising its African strategy. Realistically, she said, that process will take one year. ¶5. (SBU) The GCAA expressed disappointment recently to EconOff and DOD officials (see para 8) about the FAA's lack of assistance to Ghana through the Safe Skies for Africa Initiative. Ms. Keane suggested the GoG delegation to ICAO meet with DOT representative Connie Hunter when in Montreal for further discussion. -------------- USAFE: GULF OF GUINEA INITIATIVE -------------- ¶6. (U) Brigadier General Roger A. Binder, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Force Europe Headquarters, briefed the Ambassador, Ghana Air Force, and members of the GCAA Friday, August 24 about ongoing developments toward a "Gulf of Guinea Airspace Security and Capacity Building" program. This was the second visit in 2007 regarding the 10-20 year plan for regional radar coverage. It was followed immediately by a technical team assessing Ghana's current radar and other technical capacities. USAFE will provide the GoG with a cost estimate for equipment (i.e. what will be required to reach full radar capacity for this initiative) and a timeline for strategic planning purposes. Post suggested USAFE approach ECOWAS to coordinate efforts. ¶7. (U) Ghana offered, in principle, to host the first regional conference on this initiative but requested logistical support. ACCRA 00001916 002 OF 002 Post awaits further instruction from USAFE. ¶8. (SBU) As noted in para 5, GCAA officials expressed discontent with lack of benefit from U.S. initiatives such as Safe Skies. These comments, repeated in private discussions with the visiting technical team, help to explain the GoG's hesitance to commit upfront to the Gulf of Guinea project which does not come with a guarantee for funding for equipment. The Minister emphasized that she could not make an informed decision without the pending technical and financial reports, but that she would present them to all GoG representatives involved with issues of national security. She supported the GCAA request for technicians to visit an exemplary radar system in Poland to see first-hand how the radar system might work in Ghana. -------------- MISSING PILOT FOLLOW UP -------------- ¶9. (U) EconOff passed commendation to the Minister based on para 6 of ref F for the support Post has received from the GCAA regarding the still-missing pilot. The Minister said she authorized creation of an investigation committee and has been very pleased with the work of her colleagues who acted swiftly and accurately in her physical absence during this event. She assured her continued support to the U.S. mission and expressed her regret about the situation. PERGL