Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ACCRA1471
2008-11-19 13:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:
PARTY YOUTH LEADERS ADVOCATE FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO4757 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHAR #1471 3241332 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 191332Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7263 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS ACCRA 001471
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM GH
SUBJECT: PARTY YOUTH LEADERS ADVOCATE FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS
1 (U) Summary. In an effort to curb the potential for
election-related violence, youth leaders from Ghana's main
political parties have been holding joint sessions with
younger party activists in which the leaders appear together
and stress the need for tolerance during the election. Last
week POLOFF met separately with the chief youth organizers
for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main
opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). In
a country in which most violence is instigated by the younger
members of society, the sessions urging peace are a welcome
development. End Summary.
2. (U) POLOFF met separately with Charles Owradu of the NPP
and Ludwig Hlodze of the NDC during the week of November 10.
(Note: Owradu is also the NPP's liaison to international
organizations, while the NDC's Hlodze is also an advisor to
the party's presidential candidate. End Note). Both leaders
described their participation in the "Inter-party Youth
Committee" or IPYC. In early to mid-2008 youth leaders from
Ghana's four major parties toured the country visiting party
youth activists, advocating for a peaceful election process.
Traveling in the same vehicle and staying at the same hotels,
the youth organizers met with party supporters in each of
Ghana's ten regions. The youth leaders spoke on topics
including the need for discipline and tolerance, the role of
the Electoral Commission in administering peaceful elections,
and the factors that could work against free elections. The
meetings, sponsored by a German development agency and
chaired by religious and civil society leaders, drew
audiences composed of young people active in all parties. The
NDC's Hlodze said that it was possible that further
activities would take place in Accra prior to the December 7
election. He added that his party was planning a November 27
"Truth and Peace" march and rally in Accra, to mobilize their
youth supporters. The rally would include messages calling
for a peaceful election. Owradu told POLOFF that he thought
the university campuses had been quieter this election than
in previous years.
3. (U) Both party officials described a similar system for
communicating to youth supporters, reaching out through
regional and district party youth organizers down to a youth
organizer responsible for one to several of Ghana's 22,000
polling stations. A similar network exists to include
university and technical school students. Hlodze said that
the NDC planned to use university students as polling agents
on election day. (Note: NDC leaders have told EMBOFFs that
they believe better educated and motivated polling agents--a
problem the NDC had in 2004-- will reduce opportunities for
ballot tampering. End Note.).
4.(U) When asked by POLOFF how the parties' youth supporters
will deal with electoral disappointment, the leaders gave
similar answers. Owradu of the NPP said that, while not
contemplating a loss (or even a run-off election) he thought
that youth supporters would take their direction from party
leadership. Hlodze provided a similar answer. He added,
however, that if post-election violence did occur, it would
likely start in northern Ghana. He also noted that he
thought there had been an increase in weapons in the country,
but didn't provide specifics.
5.(SBU) Comment. Ghana's news media continue to carry daily
stories of civil society and religious leaders calling for
peaceful elections. That the political parties have engaged
in extensive pre-election efforts to calm youth members is
encouraging. The parties' ability to communicate to the
grassroots level provides some capacity to reduce tensions
should there be localized outbreaks. While young people may
react strongly to their parties' loss, particularly in areas
of northern Ghana, the tone set by the presidential
candidates and other party leaders will be key in reducing
any tensions following a close election. End Comment.
TEITELBAUM
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM GH
SUBJECT: PARTY YOUTH LEADERS ADVOCATE FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS
1 (U) Summary. In an effort to curb the potential for
election-related violence, youth leaders from Ghana's main
political parties have been holding joint sessions with
younger party activists in which the leaders appear together
and stress the need for tolerance during the election. Last
week POLOFF met separately with the chief youth organizers
for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main
opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). In
a country in which most violence is instigated by the younger
members of society, the sessions urging peace are a welcome
development. End Summary.
2. (U) POLOFF met separately with Charles Owradu of the NPP
and Ludwig Hlodze of the NDC during the week of November 10.
(Note: Owradu is also the NPP's liaison to international
organizations, while the NDC's Hlodze is also an advisor to
the party's presidential candidate. End Note). Both leaders
described their participation in the "Inter-party Youth
Committee" or IPYC. In early to mid-2008 youth leaders from
Ghana's four major parties toured the country visiting party
youth activists, advocating for a peaceful election process.
Traveling in the same vehicle and staying at the same hotels,
the youth organizers met with party supporters in each of
Ghana's ten regions. The youth leaders spoke on topics
including the need for discipline and tolerance, the role of
the Electoral Commission in administering peaceful elections,
and the factors that could work against free elections. The
meetings, sponsored by a German development agency and
chaired by religious and civil society leaders, drew
audiences composed of young people active in all parties. The
NDC's Hlodze said that it was possible that further
activities would take place in Accra prior to the December 7
election. He added that his party was planning a November 27
"Truth and Peace" march and rally in Accra, to mobilize their
youth supporters. The rally would include messages calling
for a peaceful election. Owradu told POLOFF that he thought
the university campuses had been quieter this election than
in previous years.
3. (U) Both party officials described a similar system for
communicating to youth supporters, reaching out through
regional and district party youth organizers down to a youth
organizer responsible for one to several of Ghana's 22,000
polling stations. A similar network exists to include
university and technical school students. Hlodze said that
the NDC planned to use university students as polling agents
on election day. (Note: NDC leaders have told EMBOFFs that
they believe better educated and motivated polling agents--a
problem the NDC had in 2004-- will reduce opportunities for
ballot tampering. End Note.).
4.(U) When asked by POLOFF how the parties' youth supporters
will deal with electoral disappointment, the leaders gave
similar answers. Owradu of the NPP said that, while not
contemplating a loss (or even a run-off election) he thought
that youth supporters would take their direction from party
leadership. Hlodze provided a similar answer. He added,
however, that if post-election violence did occur, it would
likely start in northern Ghana. He also noted that he
thought there had been an increase in weapons in the country,
but didn't provide specifics.
5.(SBU) Comment. Ghana's news media continue to carry daily
stories of civil society and religious leaders calling for
peaceful elections. That the political parties have engaged
in extensive pre-election efforts to calm youth members is
encouraging. The parties' ability to communicate to the
grassroots level provides some capacity to reduce tensions
should there be localized outbreaks. While young people may
react strongly to their parties' loss, particularly in areas
of northern Ghana, the tone set by the presidential
candidates and other party leaders will be key in reducing
any tensions following a close election. End Comment.
TEITELBAUM