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.

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ICAO
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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.

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GHANA SEEKS ASSISTANCE
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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.

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USAFE: GULF OF GUINEA INITIATIVE
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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.

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MISSING PILOT FOLLOW UP
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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