This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000357 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMBASSADOR FOR DG DAS LINDA TAGLIALATELA, FOR AF/FO 
LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD, FOR AF/W PHILLIP CARTER, RICHARD 
KAMINSKI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON AMGT APER GH
SUBJECT: NECESSITY FOR RETAINING ECONOMIC POSITION 
 
REF: BRIDGEWATER/THOMAS-GREENFIELD 02/07/06 EMAIL 
 
¶1. Post provides the following justification for retaining 
the "one-time fill" FO-04 Economic Section Entry Level 
Officer position (Position No. 20004008).  This position is 
essential to meeting the increasing demands on this Embassy 
for economic analysis and reporting, investor-advocacy, 
support for the Millennium Challenge Account program in 
Ghana, support for USTR's preliminary discussions on 
negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with Ghana, and support 
for the large number of economy-focused, high-level 
Washington visits and dramatically increasing number of 
econ-related taskings specific to Ghana. 
 
Case for Retaining Economic Officer Position 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶2. The Economic Section's (ECON) activities have increased 
dramatically in response to the growing U.S.-Ghana economic 
engagement.  ECON not only carries the heaviest reporting 
load in the Embassy, it also handles the most official 
visits.  During 2005, ECON hosted approximately 170 total 
visitors from the 24 USG organizations listed below, and also 
served as control for President Carter's visit and several 
econ-related Codels.  All of these visits required extensive 
ECON logistical support and well over half involved schedule 
planning, significant ECON participation, and follow-up 
reporting. 
 
--  Department of State 
--  Department of Treasury 
--  Millennium Challenge Corporation 
--  Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 
--  Trade Development Agency 
--  Department of Agriculture 
--  Overseas Private Investment Corporation 
--  Export Import Bank 
--  International Trade Commission 
--  Internal Revenue Service 
--  Federal Aviation Administration 
--  Transportation Security Administration 
--  Customs and Border Protection 
--  U.S. Coast Guard (port security) 
--  U.S. Census Bureau 
--  Federal Communications Administration 
--  National Science Foundation 
--  Environmental Protection Agency 
--  United States Institute for Peace 
--  Department of Labor 
--  Department of Commerce 
--  African Development Foundation 
--  Environmental Protection Agency 
--  NASA 
 
¶4. In 2005, ECON's total front-channel taskers, including 
demarche requests, exceeded 120.  We received dozens more via 
email.  A significant number of these taskings were 
Post-specific, particularly action requests on the MCA, 
International Atomic Energy Agency, AGOA/trade, and civil 
aviation. 
 
¶5. Ghana is becoming the gateway to West Africa and serves as 
a base for companies, NGO's, international organizations, and 
diplomatic missions.  Since 2003, Ghana has qualified for the 
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (AGOA), the two main Administration programs 
designed to reduce poverty in Africa.  Ghana also qualified 
for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country 
(HIPC) program and the new G8 debt relief initiative.  In 
addition, USTR is holding early talks with Ghana to decide 
whether to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).  It would 
be the first FTA in West Africa and would quickly become 
ECON's priority. 
 
¶6. Ghana's recent economic expansion results in part from 
major investments by the U.S. private sector.  Newmont Mining 
is currently investing $500 million in one gold mine, and 
will start construction on another of equal size in 2007. 
ALCOA signed an MOU with the GoG to begin planning for 
investment of over $2 billion by 2008.  Either of these 
investments qualifies as the largest U.S. investment ever in 
Ghana.  Together they will make the U.S. the largest investor 
in the country.  U.S. exports to Ghana increased over 50% in 
2004, from $200 to $300 million, while Ghana's exports to the 
U.S. increased about 80%. 
 
¶7. As U.S. investment and trade has increased so have the 
complications and disputes.  EconOffs spent an inordinate 
amount of time from 2003-2005 advocating on behalf of Kaiser 
Aluminum, Western Wireless International, and CMS Energy in 
their disputes with the government.  Post played a key role 
in the resolution of these disputes, especially in the 
clearance of $20 million arrears to CMS.  ECON continues its 
heavy and increasing advocacy role on behalf of U.S. 
companies who frequently experience serious difficulties with 
the government or Ghanaian partners.  In 2005, EconOffs 
organized Mission advocacy efforts on behalf of CMS Energy, 
Western Wireless, ALCOA, Newmont, Oracle, Hewlett Packard, 
Kosmos Energy, Amerada Hess, Coca Cola, Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, 
and at least a dozen other lesser-known companies. 
 
¶8. For years Ghana has been the only West African point of 
origin for direct flights to the U.S.  Although in 2004 the 
FAA banned the national airline from flying to the U.S., it 
is reassessing Ghana's civil aviation safety oversight.  At 
the moment, one U.S. airline flies direct between Ghana and 
the U.S. and several others will begin U.S./Ghana service in 
¶2006.  The process to get GoG approval for these airlines and 
the ongoing FAA/DOT reassessment of Ghana require 
considerable ECON engagement.  Civil aviation will remain a 
key responsibility of ECON's Entry Level Officer, who handles 
all communication and visitors related to the issue. 
 
¶9. Economic Growth and Development is the number one goal of 
Post's MPP and we have already requested a third Economic 
Officer.  Cutting the section to one officer would seriously 
undermine our current economic relationship with Ghana.  The 
remaining officer would spend the majority of his/her time 
acting as a VIP coordinator and putting out fires in high 
profile but time-consuming areas such as civil aviation.  We 
would lose the significant influence we currently have over 
IMF/World Bank macroeconomic issues, which would, in turn, 
reduce overall USG influence on Ghana's economic 
policy-making decisions.  Finally, cutting the position would 
deprive an Entry Level Officer of an outstanding opportunity 
to gain real substantive experience by working on a wide 
range of economic issues. 
 
Conclusion 
---------- 
¶10. Ghana is a country where we are already engaged in 
transformational diplomacy, and it is working.  Ghana has 
transformed from a fragile state to a regional leader in 
terms of democracy, stability, and economic development. 
Ghana's success has been in part a result of our bilateral 
economic engagement, which we need to expand rather than cut. 
 Continued economic growth is fundamental to keeping Ghana on 
the right path.  The Economic Section leads our efforts in 
this area for the Mission. 
BRIDGEWATER