GHANA CIVIL SOCIETY, CLERGY AND PARTY LEADERS

UNCLAS ACCRA 001174

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM GH
SUBJECT: GHANA CIVIL SOCIETY, CLERGY AND PARTY LEADERS
SHARE MESSAGE: "KEEP ELECTION PEACEFUL"

REF: ACCRA 01122


1. (U) Summary: Civil religious and political leaders have
consistently called for peaceful elections and calm and
reemphasized their message following recent incidents of
violence in Northern Ghana that saw several killings and the
destruction of property (REFTEL). The calls for calm are
receiving wide coverage in Ghana's media. Earlier highly
partisan rhetoric has been replaced, at least for now, by
leaders' calls for tolerance and violence-free elections. End
Summary.


2. (U) In recent days Ghana's major newspapers have featured
prominent articles quoting civic, traditional, religious and
political leaders from across the social and political
spectrum calling for calm and peaceful elections. The
Chairman of the University of Ghana Council warned students
against being used by politicians to further illegal
electoral activities. He was joined by the head of the
Graduate Students Association of Ghana, who condemned the
recent violence. Traditional leaders, including the
Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, asked Christians not to
participate in violent electoral acts. (NOTE: The Asantehene
is the traditional leader of the Ashanti people, and has all
but endorsed New Patriotic Party candidate Nana Akufo Addo.
END NOTE.). Other community leaders have also added their
voices to the call for calm.


3. (U) President John A. Kufuor has asked the electorate to
accept the outcome of the election. He said recently that
"Professor Atta Mills is not my enemy and I do not think he
considers me his enemy." (NOTE: Mills is the NDC candidate
for President. END NOTE.) Representative of the youth wings
of Ghana's four main parties met in Northern Ghana at a
"Youth for Peaceful Elections" forum to discuss ways to avoid
violence. The National Democratic Congress's National
Campaign Chairman (and MP from the northern city of Tamale)
asked NDC supporters not to seek revenge against those who
attacked NDC supporters and property in his community.


4. (U) Comment: While incidents of violence have occurred,
and likely will re-occur, there is wide support in Ghana for
peaceful and transparent elections. Ghanaians are aware of
the potential damage to the country's development from civil
unrest, and a broad spectrum of opinion leaders appear to be
working to calm tensions following recent incidents. End
Comment.
TEITELBAUM