GHANA'S NEW CIVIL AVIATION HEAD

UNCLAS ACCRA 001021

EEB/TRA FOR JOHN BYERLY

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON MARR GH
SUBJECT: GHANA'S NEW CIVIL AVIATION HEAD


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The GOG has signaled that it was raising the
profile of civil aviation issues by selecting a new head of the
Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey.
Mamphey's selection also underlined the continuing influence of
former President J.J. Rawlings in civair affairs in Ghana. Mamphey
previewed his priorities and concerns, which include greater
attention to manpower development, training, restoring Ghana to FAA
Tier 1 status, supporting Transport Minister Mike Hammah's direction
to Delta to improve service on its Accra-JFK route, and coping with
the additional demand for air traffic and search and rescue
operations due to increased oil and gas drilling offshore Ghana.
Mamphey supports the recently floated proposal for the Ghana Air
Force to purchase four C-27J aircraft from the U.S. END SUMMARY.

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New Pilot Steers GCAA
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2. (SBU) Econoffs met with Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey (ret.),the
new Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA),
and his predecessor, Simon Allotey. Allotey was kept in "acting" DG
capacity for 5 years by the previous NPP government. The new
assignment of a permanent DG is part of the current ruling NDC
government's stated efforts to raise the profile of civair issues in
Ghana. According to civair contacts, Mamphey's appointment also
reflects the continuing political influence of former President and
Ghana Air Force Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings. NOTE: Mamphey was one of
the pilots of President Rawlings's presidential airplane in the
1980s. END NOTE.

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Feeling Tiered
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3. (U) Mamphey stressed his priority of improving manpower
development and training at the airport. He also supported
continuing the GCAA's work in restoring Ghana to Tier I status. As
part of those efforts, Mamphey related that he was in the process of
hiring a retired FAA employee as a GCAA consultant starting in
November.

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Hammah for Change by Delta
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4. (SBU) The DG mentioned Transport Minister Mike Hammah's directive
that Delta improve service on the Accra-JFK flight, or the GOG would
open the route up for greater competition. The GOG has received
numerous complaints about delays that affect U.S. domestic transit
flights out of JFK, shoddy service, and cramped seating.
Acknowledging a reduction in Delta's revenue, the DG and his
predecessor proposed changing the seat pitch, i.e. taking out a
column of seats in economy. They noted that KLM and Lufthansa flew
Boeing 777 aircraft to Accra and suggested Delta could see increased
profits by using 777s rather than the 767s and 757s they currently
use.


5. (SBU) Both Mamphey and Allotey said there was absolutely no
problem with Delta's safety record in Accra and that the planes are
maintained well here. It was unfortunate that Delta had tire
problems and was grounded on the day customer complaints reached the
Minister, who decided on an impromptu visit to Delta at the airport
that very day. "Politicians have to be responsive to their
constituents," they remarked.


6. (SBU) They discussed opening up the New York route to
competition by Continental or other carriers as a way to spur Delta
to take their concerns more seriously. Allotey noted that
Continental had contacted them regarding this route in the past and
could still be interested.

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Can You C-27?
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7. (SBU) In his former capacity as a Ghana Air Force officer,
Commodore Mamphey worked with to the DAO and Office of Security
Cooperation. Unprompted, he voiced support for the purchase of four
C-27J Spartan cargo planes for the GAF for peace-keeping operations.
He also told econoffs he is interested in beefing up the GCAA's
ability to handle increased air traffic due to offshore oil
exploration activity, and specifically search and rescue
surveillance.
FURUTA-TOY