F-region ion convection in the vicinity of the dayside polar cleft is strongly controlled by the interplanetary magnetic field, suggesting a direct current-driven coupling between the solar wind and dayside, high-latitude ionosphere. This coupling has been explored through observations of high-latitude ion convection measured by the Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland incoherent scatter radar and subsequent computer simulations. The computer simulation calculates the ionospheric electric potential distribution for a given configuration of field-aligned currents and conductivity distribution. Using a simple model of the field-aligned currents linking the solar wind with the dayside, high-latitude ionosphere, we can explore the consequences of variations of the currents on ionospheric plasma convection. The direction and strength of the currents are set according to measurements in the upstream solar wind and the time varying ionospheric electric field and resulting plasma convection are simulated. Comparisons of the simulated plasma convection with the ion velocity measurements at Sondrestrom show very good agreement. Thus, a very simple model which provides a direct current-driven connection between the solar wind and the high-latitude ionosphere via field-aligned currents in the polar cleft is able to explain a large portion of the ionospheric electric field variations observed in the vicinity of the polar cleft.