GHANA POLITICAL ROUNDUP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001962 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL GH SUBJECT: GHANA POLITICAL ROUNDUP REFS: A) Accra 1945 B) Accra 1037 C) Accra 1822 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE TREAT ACCORDINGLY Topics Covered: -- Ghanaians raise concern over partisan polling by security service -- Vice President Aliu Mahama Steps up Bid -- Botwe to be NPP Nominee? -- Trade Union Demonstrate Against Bank Sale -- Head of Union Jailed BNI'S Presidential Polling -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On August 27, the "Ghanaian Observer," a private daily newspaper, published a leaked survey in which the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) asked participants nationwide who they supported in the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) race to succeed President Kufuor. The report has raised public concerns over why the national security apparatus is conducting political polls for the governing party, and whether security organizations will play a role in internal politics. While BNI has publicly denied that it conducted the survey, Embassy contacts have confirmed that BNI has conducted polls for the NPP. Some NPP candidates have questioned the "timing" of the story and fear the poll details could damage their nascent campaigns. According to the BNI poll, for example, Vice President Mahama trailed the front-runners. ¶2. (U) Among the NPP presidential aspirants, the BNI poll names former Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo as the front runner with former Minister of Trade Alan Kyeremanten, Vice President Aliu Mahama and former Minister of Defense and brother of President Kufuor, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, close behind. The mid-ranks are, in order: Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Yaw Osafo Maafo, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Felix Owusu Adjepong, Dan Botwe, Hackman Owusu Agyeman and Prof. Mike Oquaye. Rounding out the bottom of the list are Capt. Nkrabea Effah-Darteh (Ret.),Papa Owusu Ankomah, Kwabena Agyapong and Dr. Arthur Kennedy. Vice President Mahama on the Campaign Trail -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On September 9, Vice President Aliu Mahama publicly declared his intent to run for the NPP nomination, and has stepped up his campaigning, embarking on a series of outreach activities over the past two weeks. Mahama toured the Eastern, Central, Northern and Upper East regions, visiting the flooded regions (ref A) and delivering assistance to victims. President Kufuor has also visited the north to see the damage. Interestingly, Mahama, who is Muslim, chose to formally announce his candidacy during a special Christian service at a church in the Central Region. By making his announcement this way, sources believe Mahama is trying to preempt attacks on his Muslim background. Mahama may have an advantage as the only Northerner in the election so far, but he faces questions about his party's handling of the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis (ref B). With his formal announcement, Mahama becomes the third NPP presidential aspirant to officially declare. The former Foreign and Defense ministers announced their campaign two weeks ago (ref C). Insider Support for Botwe as NPP Nominee? -------------- ¶4. (SBU) According to taped conversations of NPP delegates from three regions obtained by the "Enquirer" newspaper, former Minister of Information Dan Botwe has strong support for the NPP nomination. The "Enquirer" is a credible Ghanaian daily and it sourced its story from actual NPP delegates. Other political observers have indicated to us that Botwe has far more support than people believe and could surprise everyone at the NPP convention in December. Botwe, while young, is well respected within party circles and served previously as NPP General Secretary. If he does not get the nomination himself, he could be a promising VP nominee. Trade Union Demonstrated Against Bank Sale -------------- ¶5. (U) Members of the Tema District Council of Labor of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) protested on September 13 against the Government's planned sale of its minority share in the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB). Members of the public and labor unions have urged the government not to sell its 48 per cent stake in the ADB, which is an important agricultural sector bank and currently has the lowest lending rates for certain agricultural loans. The TUC argues that, if the sale goes through, interest rates could increase and thus threaten farmers' ability to borrow money when needed. Head of Union Jailed -------------- ACCRA 00001962 002 OF 002 ¶6. (U) Napoleon Kpoh, General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) was sentenced to one month in jail for failing to obey a ruling of the Accra Fast Track Court that he relinquish his union position. As reported in ref C, Kpoh has refused to give up his position and call a new election despite the expiration of his term. BRIDGEWATER