VZCZCXRO1437
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #1052/01 2280752
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150752Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6883
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001052 
 
SIPDIS 
 
JUN BANDO IN AF/RSA 
SATRAJIT SARDAR IN AF/C 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AFIN MARR MASS SNAR MOPS PREL GH
SUBJECT: ACCRA INPUT FOR FY 09 AFRICA PARTNERSHIP STATION 
 
REF: SEC STATE 75639 
 
¶1. (U) (Summary) EMBOFF's conversations with Ghanaian 
officials found broad support for participation in the Africa 
Partnership Station (APS).  The Ghanaian officials were 
unanimous in seeing APS as an opportunity for staff training 
and development.  Ghanaian officials cited their need to 
develop inter-agency cooperation in the areas of maritime 
security and safety. Naval contacts stressed the importance 
of scheduling APS to minimize disruptions to on-going 
training activities.  Post met with officials from the 
Ministry of Fisheries, Narcotics Board, Armed Forces, the 
Maritime Authority. (End Summary.) 
 
¶2. (U) POLOFF met with Mr. Emmanuel Quaye Chief Director 
(head civil servant) of the Ministry of Fisheries. Also 
present was Mr. Charles Coussey, Advisor to the Ministry. 
Mr. Quaye began by noting that he had been visited a few 
months previously by USG officials seeking input on APS. Mr. 
Quaye noted that training, particularly advanced training for 
those who have had basic courses, would be helpful. POLOFF 
requested specifics regarding training needs, and Mr. Coussey 
was to provide a list. Chief Director Quaye expressed concern 
about maritime safety conflicts between oil exploration and 
fisheries sharing the same waterways along Ghana's coast. He 
added that more training with the Marine Control and 
Surveillance System, which tracks shipping movements, would 
be useful.  Mr. Quaye also said that intelligence on maritime 
issues is not currently widely shared within the Government 
of Ghana. 
 
3 (U) POLOFF discussed APS with Mr. Ben Botwe, Executive 
Secretary of the Ghana Narcotics Control Board (NACOB). Mr. 
Botwe indicated that NACOB would want to be part of any 
training offered through APS. According to Botwe, NACOB is 
particularly interested in areas involving drug interdiction. 
He also expressed a desire to see more inter-agency 
cooperation, particularly with the Navy.  NACOB, he 
explained, does not have any patrol vessels and is dependent 
on cooperation from the Navy for seaborne drug interdiction. 
He also noted that NACOB has seen a dramatic increase in 
staffing in the past two years, increasing the need for 
training. 
 
¶4. (U) POLOFF and OSC Chief met on July 31 with Captain 
Bonsu, Director of Operations with the Ghana Navy.  Captain 
Bonsu labeled as a success the navy's participation in the 
previous APS exercise.  Captain Bonsu requested additional 
training opportunities for the Navy.  When asked by EMBOFFs, 
he agreed that further steps toward inter-agency cooperation 
were needed. He gave as examples potential joint efforts by 
the Navy and GOG agencies in counter-narcotics, fisheries 
management and ship inspections, along with support for the 
soon to be developed offshore oil industry. 
 
¶5. (U) In a separate meeting with a Ghana Navy senior 
officer, POLOFF and OSC Chief met with Commander Tarm-Sacky, 
head of the Tema Naval Base. Tarm-Sacky's main concern with 
APS was its timing, and how if not scheduled appropriately 
the  program could disrupt regular naval training efforts. 
Tarm-Sacky requested that planners contact the Navy's 
Director of Training, Captain Asante, in advance of planning 
for the program. Tarm-Sacky said that the priority for APS 
should be to help the Ghana Navy to build the capacity to 
police Ghana's territorial waters. He noted that the Navy's 
vessels  lacked the endurance for long range or regular 
patrols.  The discovery of oil, he added, adds a new 
dimension to the level of seaborne policing needed. 
 
¶6. (U) POLOFF met with officials of the Ghana Maritime 
Authority (GMA), including the Chief Director, Peter Azumah. 
Mr. Azumah explained that the Maritime Authority was created 
less than two years ago, and did not participate in the first 
ASP exercise. He added that the GMA was formed to coordinate 
maritime policy and activities.  The officials spent 
considerable time describing the functions of the GMA, which 
is limited by the lack of vessels and other equipment and the 
lack of an enforcement arm.  Mr. Azumah stressed the need for 
training in the areas of maritime safety, including on inland 
waterways.  GMA officials noted that training should be 
focused on preventive safety measures. He suggested that the 
Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency be invited to 
participate in APS. 
 
¶7. (U) (Comment.) Ghanaian interest in APS is strong. 
Repeatedly, Ghanaian officials noted their need to develop a 
multi-agency approach to maritime safety and security.  To 
the extent that APS can provide a platform to initiate a 
multi-agency approach, in areas such as narcotic control and 
 
ACCRA 00001052  002 OF 002 
 
 
environmental protection, it will be appreciated by the GOG. 
(End Comment.) 
BROWN