GHANA VOTER REGISTRATION --LONG LINES AND SUSPECT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001048

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PGOV KDEM GH
SUBJECT: GHANA VOTER REGISTRATION --LONG LINES AND SUSPECT
PRACTICES


1. (SBU) Summary. Ghana's long delayed voter registration
exercise ended August 13, marked by long lines, insufficient
materials, and accusations of partisan tampering with the
process. EMBOFFs toured voter registration centers in Accra,
Ashanti, Central and Western regions, finding long lines of
young voter registrants and an Electoral Commission (EC)
often struggling to cope. Ghana's media and political
parties have alleged that under-aged voters were registered,
that people were bused from other regions to register, and
that double registration occurred. The EC extended the eleven
day exercise by two days to accommodate the larger than
anticipated lines. The EC's weak implementation raises
concerns about its effectiveness and provides ammunition to
those who will be inclined to doubt the fairness of the
December election.


2. (SBU) From August 4 to 9 the POL section's LES Political
Specialist and ECON Section Rangle Fellow visited the
Central, Western and Ashanti Regions to observe the
registration exercise. The exercise was intended to allow
new voters to register, and especially those who have turned
eighteen since the last exercise in 2006.

Central and Western Regions:
--------------


3. (SBU) In the Central Region the team visited six polling
stations in the towns of Cape Coast, Elmina and in rural
areas. The team observed moderat lines with no visible
security personnel at the centers. In Cape Coast the EMBOFFs
spoke with an EC official who described how three unknown
suspects allegedly disrupted a registration center and
intimidated people waiting in line, claiming the would-be
registrants were not from Central Region. The three also
destroyed registration materials. The police responded,
according to the source, but no arrests were made. In a
second incident, the EC official said that underage people
attempted to register. The source was not certain if these
people were successful, or if a "challenge form" was
completed, per EC regulations. EC registration agents told
EMBOFFs about shortages of election materials and of
difficulties with equipment, such as cameras.


4. (SBU) EMBOFFs were told by opposition National Democratic
Congress (NDC) officials in the Central Region that nine
buses were observed bringing voters to a registration center
in one of the two parliamentary constituencies held by the
NDC in the region. The NDC officials had license plate
numbers for the buses, some of which, they said, were
operated by a public bus system. The NDC officials also
reported that several of their supporters had been beaten by
supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party. The officials
claimed that the police had turned a blind eye to the
intimidation. The officials claimed to have a video showing
intimidation tactics. NDC officials also alleged that
District Chief Executives (appointed by the President) were
transporting people into Central Region and assisting in
their registration. EMBOFFs met with the NPP Central Region
Secretary, who admitted to the transportation of would-be
registrants by his party's parliamentary candidate, but said
the ensuring violence "was just a minor incident."



5. (SBU) In the Western Region EMBOFFs visited five
registration centers, including some in the urban area of
Takoradi-Sekondi and also in rural areas. EMBOFFs toured
three rural stations, each of which had been without
registration forms for at least one day. Despite the lack of
forms, some would-be registrants were patiently waiting to
enroll. In the urban areas lines were longer, and adequate
materials were provided. An EC official interviewed blamed
the rural shortages on the difficulty of transporting
materials on poorly maintained rural roads.

Ashanti Region:
--------------


6. (SBU) EMBOFFs visited four registration centers in Kumasi,
Ghana's second city and a stronghold for the governing NPP.
They observed long lines and crowds of rowdy by-standers
present at the Kumasi registration centers. In the Zongo, or
Muslim section of the city, voter registration materials had
run out and had not been restocked after two days. (Note: The
Zongo is the only section of Kumasi represented by an
opposition member of parliament). In nearby areas an official
told EMBOFFs that depleted forms had been restocked within
hours-- these areas had voted for the NPP in 2004. The
Regional EC director told EMBOFFs that 200,000 forms had been
allocated to Ashanti Region.


ACCRA 00001048 002 OF 002


Accra:
--------------

7.(SBU) POLOFF on August 7 visited two registration centers
in low income neighborhoods of Accra. The registration sites
had been relocated at mid-week, as equipment was shifted
among districts, making it difficult to find the active
centers. POLOFF observed long lines at both locations, with
police officers present to watch the tired, but generally
calm, crowds. Some would-be voters told POLOFF they had been
waiting in line over ten hours. Party representatives at the
centers reported no problems.

Comment:
--------------


8. (SBU) Comment. The EC was clearly unprepared for the
number of would-be registrants. The EC had publicly said that
it expected between 600,000 and 1 million new voters to
register. The EC obtained only half of the computer and
camera work stations needed for the exercise, a major factor
contributing to the long lines and confusion about the
location of registration centers. The allegations of
registration fraud are troubling. Throughout the exercise the
local media carried stories of under-age registration and
bused in registrants-- reports given credence by the higher
than expected turnouts. The perception-- real or not-- that
the EC was favoring the NPP is especially troubling, and will
provide NDC supporters with a platform from which to
challenge an unfavorable election result in December. The EC
has damaged its credibility as a neutral and competent body.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo
Afari-Gyan, on August 13 apologized to registrants for the
delays in the registration process. Post will continue to
report on events. End Comment.


BROWN