GHANA'S OPPOSITION NDC CHOOSES MILLS AS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 003031

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2016
TAGS: GH PGOV PINR
SUBJECT: GHANA'S OPPOSITION NDC CHOOSES MILLS AS
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

REF: ACCRA 2269

Classified By: PolChief for reasons 1.5 d and e.


1. (U) Summary: Former Vice President and two-time
presidential candidate John Evans Atta Mills was chosen to be
the National Democratic Congress' presidential candidate in
2008 during a December 21 NDC party Congress. Unlike the 2005
NDC Convention, this Congress was peaceful and largely
conciliatory. Mills appears to have broad support from
within his party but will need to convince voters he is his
own man and can overcome a history of electoral losses.
Increased intra-party democracy in Ghana's main opposition
party is a sign of the country's growing political maturity.
End summary.


2. (U) On December 21, Ghana's main opposition National
Democratic Congress (NDC) party overwhelmingly elected John
Evans Atta Mills as its presidential candidate for the 2008
presidential election. Mills won 81.4 percent of the votes
cast by 1,720 delegates to the NDC's Special Delegates
Congress in Accra. The other aspirants trailed with 8.7
percent of the vote for Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, 8.2 percent
for Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu and 1.7 percent (just 28 votes) for
Eddie Annan (see reftel for background on all the
candidates). The losing candidates readily conceded defeat,
promised to support Mills, and pledged that they would not
leave the NDC or break away to form new parties.

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


3. (C) Mills was widely favored to win the NDC election,
although most observers expected a closer race. While Mills
has lost two consecutive presidential elections, delegates
favored him because of his name recognition, strong
reputation for integrity, and long history with the party.
Mills' unusually vigorous speech at the convention may also
have swayed those who have criticized him for being too
mild-mannered, as well as those with reservations about his
health. (Note: It is difficult to assess Mills' health. The
much younger Spio-Garbrah claimed to Rawlings that Mills had
an unspecified illness. Mills traveled to China and South
Africa in the past few months for medical check-ups, which
stirred media speculation about his health. Several
well-informed contacts have told PolChief Mills has/had
throat cancer. Other NDC sources close to Mills insist he
only had sinus problems which developed as a result of his
regular swimming. PolChief saw at the convention that Mills
had lost weight but appeared energetic. End note.)


4. (C) Spio-Garbrah, the only other candidate observers
thought might win the vote, lost support because of his
previous splits with the party and his perceived abrasive
style. Mills is an impressive, seasoned politician who
appears to have a groundswell of support from within his
party. He faces many challenges as he moves toward 2008,
including maintaining party unity and improving NDC finances.
To win, he will have to convince voters he can act
independently from Rawlings (many question whether he is
strong enough to be his own man),can overcome a history of
losing elections, and can offer a brighter future than
promised by the ruling NPP party (the NPP will not select a
candidate until December 2007).


5. (C) The party congress stood in marked contrast to the
2005 NDC congress in Kofuridua, which was disorganized,
marred by violQce, and fractious (resulting in some
long-time leaders splitting from the NDC to form the
Democratic Freedom Party). In 2005, Rawlings dominated the
event and was seen as the kingmaker in the election of party
officials. This year's congress was festive and peaceful.
Rawlings was low-key and publicly neutral in the election,
urging delegates to be true to their constituencies. As is
the tradition in Ghana, other parties greeted the Congress,
with the exception of the break-away DFP which reportedly
refused an invitation to the event. The NDC made a
convincing effort to improve intra-party democracy, holding a
UNDP-sponsored workshop on internal democracy several weeks
before the Congress, fielding more candidates than ever in
the flagbearer election, stressing unity in congress
speeches, and cooperating closely with the Electoral
Commission in running a smooth election. This effort at
projecting greater unity and internal democracy is a positive
step in Ghana's political development which should strengthen
the NDC as it gears up for 2008.

Bio of John Evans Atta Mills
--------------

ACCRA 00003031 002 OF 002




6. (U) Professor John Evans Atta Mills, born July 21, 1944,
received initial training in law at the University of Ghana
and London School of Economics and Political Science,
specializing in tax law. He later earned a Ph.D. in law from
the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of
London. He was a Fulbright Scholar at Stanford Law School in
California (1970-71).


7. (U) He taught tax and corporate law at the University of
Ghana for 25 years and was a visiting Professor at Temple Law
School in Philadelphia, PA (1978-79, 1986-87) and Leiden
University, Holland (1985-86). He spearheaded a commission
that undertook a comprehensive review of Ghana,s tax system
and prepared a casebook on Ghana,s income tax system.


8. (U) Mills was the Commissioner of the International
Revenue Service of Ghana from 1988 to 1997. He served as
Vice President of Ghana under Rawlings from January 1997 to
January 2001. He was the NDC candidate in the 2000
presidential election, losing in a second round with 43.1% of
the vote. He was again the NDC candidate during the 2004
presidential election, winning 44.7% of the vote, versus 52%
for Kufuor. He is married with one son (born out of
wedlock). He is an ethnic Fante from the Central Region.
BROWN