Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ACCRA2477
2007-12-03 15:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
how-toVZCZCXRO2196 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHAR #2477 3371500 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 031500Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5778 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0002
UNCLAS ACCRA 002477
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA POLITICAL ROUNDUP
UNCLAS ACCRA 002477
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA POLITICAL ROUNDUP
1. SUMMARY: The 2008 Presidential race to succeed President Kufuor
continues to heat up as prominent members of the ruling New
Patriotic Party (NPP),including Vice President Aliu Mahama and
Former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, have complained that the
NPP's nomination process has not been transparent. Meanwhile, the
Attorney General announced the creation of a special task force to
investigate corruption allegations in Parliament. The Convention
People's Party, the party of Ghanaian founding father Kwame Nkrumah,
has postponed its convention again to December 15. And the Ghana
Police sacked nineteen more officers for corruption. Finally, courts
in Accra sentenced two Venezuelans, arrested in 2005, to 20 and 25
years in prison for possession of nearly 600 kilograms of cocaine.
END SUMMARY.
NPP Missteps in Vetting of Presidential Candidates
-------------- --------------
2. Leading candidates for the ruling NPP's nomination for the 2008
Presidential Election, including Vice President Aliu Mahama and
former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, have voiced concern about the
NPP's candidate selection process, claiming it is not transparent
and potentially unfair. This followed leaks to the press of
confidential information from each candidate's files during the
SIPDIS
"vetting" process. As a result of this outcry, the NPP is allowing
candidates to form committees to work closely with the NPP's
election and congress planning teams ahead of the December 22
Congress. The NPP concluded vetting of candidates on November 28 and
the official list of candidates is expected to be released in early
December. President Kufuor's recent statement that he has a good
idea who will succeed him among the 19 presidential candidates has
added suspicion to the nomination process and generated ill will
among many candidates amidst the wiespread perception that Kufuor
is providing financial support to Kyerematen's candidacy.
Attorney General to Act on Corruption in Parliament
-------------- --------------
3. As a result of the recent scandals uncovered by the Public
Accounts Committee (PAC) of Ghana's Parliament, Attorney General Joe
Ghartey declared on November 15 that he is creating a special task
force to prosecute these cases. Recent statements from GOG officials
indicate that several million dollars worth of state money was
embezzled or stolen through the Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs). Ghartey said that until a special financial tribunal is
convened to hear these cases, the cases will be tried in the regular
court system.
CPP Postpones Congress to December 15
--------------
4. The Convention People's Party (CPP) has postponed its Congress,
for the third time, to December 15 because of "operational
difficulties." CPP General Secretary Prof. Nii Noi Dowuona said the
postponement was due to the inability of CPP officials to complete
local elections, a prerequisite for the Congress. Delegates are
expected to elect a presidential candidate and national executive
officers. The frontrunners for the CPP nomination are Professor
Agyemang Badu Akosa, former Director-General of Ghana Health Service
and Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, former Minister of Public Sector Reforms.
More Police Officers Sacked for Corruption
--------------
5. In the last month, as part of the Ghana Police Service's (GPS)
ongoing efforts to root out corruption in its ranks, the GPS
dismissed 19 officers for various forms of misconduct. Throughout
the year the GPS has dismissed hundreds of officers for breaching
GPS rules and the law. The GPS is particularly focused on officers
who engage in extortion and release prisoners early from their
sentences.
Two Venezuelans Jailed on Drug Related Charges
-------------- -
6. On November 13, an Accra court sentenced two Venezuelan
nationals, Joel Meija Duarte Moises and Italio Gervasio Rosero, aka
Italio Cabeza Castillo, to 25 and 20 years in prison, respectively,
in connection with the 2005 seizure of over 588 kilograms of cocaine
in Accra. A third Venezuelan and the alleged mastermind behind the
cocaine operation, Vasquez Gerado Duarte David, aka Bude, remains at
large, but the court found him guilty in absentia and sentenced him
to 25 years in prison. The convicts will be deported to Venezuela
after serving their sentences.
BRIDGEWATER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA POLITICAL ROUNDUP
1. SUMMARY: The 2008 Presidential race to succeed President Kufuor
continues to heat up as prominent members of the ruling New
Patriotic Party (NPP),including Vice President Aliu Mahama and
Former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, have complained that the
NPP's nomination process has not been transparent. Meanwhile, the
Attorney General announced the creation of a special task force to
investigate corruption allegations in Parliament. The Convention
People's Party, the party of Ghanaian founding father Kwame Nkrumah,
has postponed its convention again to December 15. And the Ghana
Police sacked nineteen more officers for corruption. Finally, courts
in Accra sentenced two Venezuelans, arrested in 2005, to 20 and 25
years in prison for possession of nearly 600 kilograms of cocaine.
END SUMMARY.
NPP Missteps in Vetting of Presidential Candidates
-------------- --------------
2. Leading candidates for the ruling NPP's nomination for the 2008
Presidential Election, including Vice President Aliu Mahama and
former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, have voiced concern about the
NPP's candidate selection process, claiming it is not transparent
and potentially unfair. This followed leaks to the press of
confidential information from each candidate's files during the
SIPDIS
"vetting" process. As a result of this outcry, the NPP is allowing
candidates to form committees to work closely with the NPP's
election and congress planning teams ahead of the December 22
Congress. The NPP concluded vetting of candidates on November 28 and
the official list of candidates is expected to be released in early
December. President Kufuor's recent statement that he has a good
idea who will succeed him among the 19 presidential candidates has
added suspicion to the nomination process and generated ill will
among many candidates amidst the wiespread perception that Kufuor
is providing financial support to Kyerematen's candidacy.
Attorney General to Act on Corruption in Parliament
-------------- --------------
3. As a result of the recent scandals uncovered by the Public
Accounts Committee (PAC) of Ghana's Parliament, Attorney General Joe
Ghartey declared on November 15 that he is creating a special task
force to prosecute these cases. Recent statements from GOG officials
indicate that several million dollars worth of state money was
embezzled or stolen through the Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs). Ghartey said that until a special financial tribunal is
convened to hear these cases, the cases will be tried in the regular
court system.
CPP Postpones Congress to December 15
--------------
4. The Convention People's Party (CPP) has postponed its Congress,
for the third time, to December 15 because of "operational
difficulties." CPP General Secretary Prof. Nii Noi Dowuona said the
postponement was due to the inability of CPP officials to complete
local elections, a prerequisite for the Congress. Delegates are
expected to elect a presidential candidate and national executive
officers. The frontrunners for the CPP nomination are Professor
Agyemang Badu Akosa, former Director-General of Ghana Health Service
and Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, former Minister of Public Sector Reforms.
More Police Officers Sacked for Corruption
--------------
5. In the last month, as part of the Ghana Police Service's (GPS)
ongoing efforts to root out corruption in its ranks, the GPS
dismissed 19 officers for various forms of misconduct. Throughout
the year the GPS has dismissed hundreds of officers for breaching
GPS rules and the law. The GPS is particularly focused on officers
who engage in extortion and release prisoners early from their
sentences.
Two Venezuelans Jailed on Drug Related Charges
-------------- -
6. On November 13, an Accra court sentenced two Venezuelan
nationals, Joel Meija Duarte Moises and Italio Gervasio Rosero, aka
Italio Cabeza Castillo, to 25 and 20 years in prison, respectively,
in connection with the 2005 seizure of over 588 kilograms of cocaine
in Accra. A third Venezuelan and the alleged mastermind behind the
cocaine operation, Vasquez Gerado Duarte David, aka Bude, remains at
large, but the court found him guilty in absentia and sentenced him
to 25 years in prison. The convicts will be deported to Venezuela
after serving their sentences.
BRIDGEWATER