US embassy cable - 04ACCRA2142

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDOC FOR 3131/USFCS/OIO/MSTAUNTON/ANESA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, ECON, EINV, MOPS, OTRA, CVIS, GH 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY OUTREACH TRIP TO GHANA'S WESTERN REGION 
 
1.  Summary:  On October 20-21, DCM led an Embassy 
delegation to Takoradi, capital of Ghana's Western region, 
to reach out to business and Western military command 
contacts and public diplomacy audiences outside of Accra. 
(We recently did a similar road show in Kumasi, Ashanti 
region).  Emboffs made a public presentation to an audience 
of about 80 people, fielded four radio interviews, visited a 
USAID project, met with Amcits and a wide range of 
political, military, and economic/commercial contacts, and 
DCM hosted a reception for local dignitaries.  The visit 
received extensive media coverage and helped generate good 
will in a key region of the country. The Embassy team 
included DCM, PAO, DATT, Army and Airforce Attaches, USAID 
Project Development Officer (PDO), Political Chief, Peace 
Corps Director, Senior FCS Officer, an economic officer, and 
a consular officer. End summary. 
 
Western Region 
-------------- 
 
2.  The resource rich Western region has roughly ten percent 
of Ghana's population (two million people), 44 percent of 
its timber, 40-60 percent of its cocoa production, 
significant plantation crop cultivation, and major deposits 
(and mining) of gold, diamonds, and manganese.  Capital city 
Takoradi has Ghana's second-largest sea port and is home to 
a sizeable navy, army and air force presence.  In the 2000 
election, Western region was split evenly between the ruling 
New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Paty 
(NDC), with 9 parliamentary seats each (and one seat to the 
Convention People's Party, CPP). 
 
Public Outreach 
--------------- 
 
3.  The entire Mission team met on October 20 with an 
audience of 80 journalists, businessmen, students, and the 
public to explain the function of different Mission 
sections.  Our consular officer explained new visa 
application procedures which should save Ghanaians months of 
time waiting for appointments.  We fielded questions for an 
hour, focused primarily on visa issues and 
commercial/business concerns.  USAID, Peace Corps and Public 
Affairs responded to requests for support for libraries, 
community centers, health programs and other activities. 
 
4.  The PAO and Consular officer gave interviews at four 
radio stations, explaining the purpose of the Mission's 
travel to Takoradi and the role of each Mission section and 
agency represented.  Questions focused on U.S. foreign 
policy, the upcoming American elections and, most of all, 
visa policy.  PAO and Consular officer also met with 
students and staff at the dynamic Takoradi Polytechnic, a 
tertiary institution that trains about 4,000 students in 
basic engineering and vocational skills.   DCM and consular 
officer met with a small group of AMCITs, and DCM, USAID PDO 
and Peace Corps Director lunched with four Peace Corps 
Volunteers based in Western Region.  The DCM hosted a 
reception that evening for about 100 prominent members of 
the community, including the Regional Minister, military, 
business, NGO and media contacts. 
 
Economic/Commercial Meetings 
---------------------------- 
 
5.  In meetings with local business contacts, Senior FCS 
Officer found significant interest in purchasing U.S. 
information and communications technology, textiles, 
seafood, and automotive parts. 
 
6.  DCM, Econoff, and FCS Officer visited the U.S. joint 
venture power generating company CMS Energy/Takoradi 
International Company (TICO).  TICO's General Manager 
discussed how natural gas from the much-anticipated West 
Africa Pipeline project - once completed - would increase 
its productivity and reduce costs.  FCS and Econoffs also 
toured the Sekondi-Takoradi port, where they were briefed on 
planned port reclamation and expansion. 
 
7.  DCM and USAID rep visited Norpalm Ghana Limited, a palm 
oil processing plant.  Norpalm received USAID assistance as 
part of the Food for Peace program, through USAID's local 
partner, TechnoServe, resulting in improved plantation and 
management information systems, and enhanced factory and 
agricultural operations. 
 
Political Meetings 
------------------ 
 
8.  DCM and other Emboffs paid a courtesy call on Joseph 
Aidoo, Regional Minister for Western Region.  Aidoo 
acknowledged strong US-Ghana relations, especially US 
military cooperation, and noted he had a Peace Corps 
Volunteer teacher when he was in school.  He sought USG 
assistance in constructing infrastructure (especially roads 
and bridges) and in encouraging U.S. companies to pursue oil 
exploration in the Western region.  He hoped we would help 
inform the Ghanaian public about visas and noted the 
region's promise for tourism development. 
 
9.   Pol Chief met separately with senior contacts in the 
police, Electoral Commission, and human rights community. 
 
10.  DCM and DATT visited the Second Infantry Battalion, 
Western Naval Command, and the Takoradi Airforce base.  They 
also visited Western Region military command for a briefing, 
toured the base and visited buoy tendor ships donated by USG 
(Septel to follow by DAO). 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
11.  The visit strengthened our ties across-the-board in a 
resource-rich, politically important region of Ghana, and 
informing a sizeable section of the Ghanaian public about 
what we do and the services (commercial, consular, and 
other) we offer.  The trip was covered on national 
television and by a number of newspapers.   We plan to do 
similar "road show" outreach throughout Ghana in the coming 
year.