Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ACCRA689
2003-04-09 17:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

RULING NPP NOTCHES WIN NUMBER FIVE

Tags:  PGOV PHUM GH 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000689 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2013
TAGS: PGOV PHUM GH
SUBJECT: RULING NPP NOTCHES WIN NUMBER FIVE

REF: ACCRA 0632

Classified By: Polchief Richard Kaminski, reason 1.5(B/D).

Once More With Feeling
----------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000689

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2013
TAGS: PGOV PHUM GH
SUBJECT: RULING NPP NOTCHES WIN NUMBER FIVE

REF: ACCRA 0632

Classified By: Polchief Richard Kaminski, reason 1.5(B/D).

Once More With Feeling
--------------


1. (U) Thirteen days after its convincing by-election win
in Navrongo (reftel),President Kufuor's ruling New Patriotic
Party (NPP) won by a similarly large margin in the Gomoa East
by-election March 8. The NPP candidate received 11,380 votes
to the NDC's 5,356 (a minor party candidate received 175
votes). With this victory, the fifth consecutive win over
former President Rawling's NDC in parliamentary by-elections,
the NPP held a seat vacant since the death of its MPP in a
car accident several months ago.

NDC Claims Electoral Fraud
--------------


2. (U) In increasingly histrionic terms, the NDC has
claimed electoral fraud and voter intimidation. Rawlings,
the day before the by-election, held an emotional press
conference in which he alleged "incredible electoral
malpractices," including "officially-sanctioned violence,"
which, he alleged, were "brazen and seemingly
institutionalized." Immediately after the announcement of
the results by the Electoral Commission, the NDC General
Secretary Dr. Josiah-Aryeh announced his party's rejection of

SIPDIS
the results (without specifying what, if any, actions he or
other party officials would take as a result). Rawlings also
called upon Ghanaians to join a "March for Survival" called
by the NDC to protest the NPP government's "disastrous
economic policies," "entrenched nepotism," and "gross abuse
of incumbency."


3. (SBU) However, the election was in fact largely peaceful
and uneventful, but for a few isolated shouting matches
between rival party supporters. Emboffs circulating on
election day saw no sign of harassment or intimidation of
voters. In an election with a relatively low turnout by
Ghanaian standards, approximately 40 percent, many election
officials had little to do during long hours of slow voting
on a hot and humid day (all polling stations located out of
doors) but fan themselves and find a bit of shade. Officers
from the British Mission had observations similar to our own.
A nine-member team from a prominent local NGO, the Center
for Democratic Development, declared the results to be "free
and fair despite some incidents."

NPP Takes No Prisoners
--------------


4. (SBU) The NPP government does employ its powers of
incumbency without hesitation. As in Navrongo, Vice
President Aliu Mahama toured the constituency for several
days just before the election as part of an "official" trip
to the Central Region, and police canceled
previously-scheduled NDC rallies ostensibly for his
"security" (this time the NDC refused to reschedule several
of them). Crews from the government-owned Electricity
Company of Ghana feverishly hung poles and strung wire from
community to community up to and including election day, and
extra road crews worked on farms roads across the area. The
funeral of the deceased MP, two days before the vote, became
an extended NPP roadshow, with the coffin taken from town to
town, and President Kufuor attending services. Direct cash
payments to traditional leaders, and "gifts" of roofing tin,
fuel, cloth and other items to constituents, while difficult
to confirm, are common practice by all political parties.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) One more by-election comes in two weeks time, this
in a constituency vacant after the NDC MP resigned for
"personal reasons." Some of those reasons include division
and disenchantment within NDC ranks. While the NPP devotes
considerable resources to by-elections, the NDC, out of
power, out of money, and out of favor with the electorate,
strains to compete. Local reaction to former President
Rawlings broad attack on the Kufuor government has been
relatively muted; his comments simply do not reflect the
actual experience of Ghanaians. One worry: while the NPP
takes great delight in handing the NDC yet another crushing
loss, the level of emotion on the part of some NDC activists
is rising; they are beginning to substitute hot-headed
threats for cool analysis of their own poor showing. Another
stinging defeat may be coming their way. End comment.


YATES