GHANA ELECTIONS: ALL THEY ARE SAYING, IS GIVE

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SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GH KDEM PGOV PHUM PINS PREL
SUBJECT: GHANA ELECTIONS: ALL THEY ARE SAYING, IS GIVE
PEACE A CHANCE


1. SUMMARY. If Ghana's December elections somehow go awry, it
won't be for lack of trying to focus the attention of the
populace on peace. For the past two months, the call for
peaceful elections has been omnipresent and inescapable, even
drowning out discourse on political platforms and the
ever-present rumor mongering by the political parties about
attempts of their opponents to steal the election.
Newspapers, FM radio stations, independent and
government-owned television stations, civil society groups,
religious leaders in churches and mosques, pop culture
celebrities, sports figures, leaders of the police, military,
and other security forces, politicians from President Kufuor
to the presidential candidates themselves to party youth
leaders -- all have joined together to publicly and
forcefully insist that the real winner in this election is
going to be peace. With a very few exceptions that
unfortunately grab the spotlight, by overwhelming consensus
Ghanaian society has embraced common cause with one issue
this balloting season: let these elections be carried out
peacefully. END SUMMARY.

THE MEDIA LEAD THE WAY...


2. Ghanaian media buzz with examples of a society focused on
the importance of peace in the upcoming presidential and
parliamentary elections. With the exception of some reckless
radio call-in programs, the media have recognized the dangers
of radical or misleading reportage, and have embraced their
responsibility to promote peace. Regardless of which party
wins, the average Ghanaian seems to consider peace as the
most important election result, and the media, guided by the
National Media Commission (NMC) and its "peace angle
journalism" campaign, have done much to promote this
sentiment.


3. Articles, editorials and letters to the editor promoting
peace appear daily in print media, including both of the
nationally-distributed state-owned papers Daily Graphic and
Ghanaian Times. For months, the Daily Graphic has run a
countdown box above its masthead with exhortative aphorisms:
"16 DAYS TO GO: Peaceful elections will make Ghana's image
soar higher on the international platform," or "13 DAYS TO
GO: Do not be influenced by anyone to do anything that will
mar the elections." These papers often dedicate multiple
peace-promoting stories in a single edition, reporting on
remarks by religious leaders, political leaders, NGO and
community leaders, the Electoral Commission (always calming
the waters by asserting that it is in control and ready to
conduct free and fair elections),and the military and police
responsible for security on polling day (always declaring
their readiness and ability to quell any potential
disturbances). Although independent, party-backed newspapers
continue to run sensational and sometimes inflammatory
headlines, their circulation is limited and their credibility
recognized as negligible on this issue. The general tenor of
the print media, much of which is read on radio and
television programs, is one of introspection, urging fellow
journalists to fulfill their role of responsible reportage to
ensure a peaceful public response to the election.


4. Television does not play as heated a role as radio and
print in affecting the mood of the general public, but most
stations devote a significant amount of time to election
coverage. Although government-owned television is required
to devote equal time to all candidates, the most universal
complaint with regard to coverage is one of fairness. Images
of rallies, for example, do not always accurately reflect the
actual number of supporters present. Candidates can purchase
time on television, and the NPP's Nana Akufo-Addo has
significantly outspent other candidates in this medium.
While television broadcasts generally trend toward the
promotion of peace, there have been instances of partisan
drama on live TV, such as when the conversation on one
political analysis program grew so heated that the host of
the show could no longer moderate. The program was abruptly
pulled off the air as participants accused each other of
prostitution and pedophilia. One participant, a professor at
a communications school, was sacked over the incident. The
two were invited back to the program later to apologize and
make public amends. On another occasion, Tony Aidoo, a
leading NDC economic advisor, walked out on the live show
"Good Evening Ghana," accusing the NPP's panelist, Kweku
Kwarteng, of lacking sufficient stature in his party. "I am
here to debate policy makers, and not their messengers," he
said, removing his microphone and walking off the set. The
National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) has paid for
advertising spots on all TV stations asking Ghanaians with
different political backgrounds to live in peace, promoting
the slogan "unity in diversity."

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5. While FM radio stations have joined in the steady
drumbeat for peace, their talk radio call-in programs
frequently degenerate into inflammatory factional rhetoric.
Akan language call-in programs appear to be the worst
offenders, with callers making inappropriate partisan
statements that incite angry responses, announcers allowing
provocative comments to go unchecked, and non-incendiary
English statements being translated into inflammatory
proverbs or expressions. Even well-intentioned stations are
caught off guard, allowing provocative remarks to slip by and
later apologizing. (NOTE: Embassy Public Affairs Section
donated tape-delay equipment to 10 radio stations around
Ghana last year; all but three of those stations are still
going live with no delay. END NOTE)


6. Intermittent monitoring of Accra radio stations has
turned up little first-hand evidence of regular, purposeful,
and malicious abuse of talk radio, however media experts,
news articles, and casual observers consistently note the
prevalence of this practice. Senior editors, journalists,
and at least one Fubright scholar contend that the situation
is more pronounced outside Accra. Many phone calls are from
"serial callers," often paid party supporters who call in to
harangue the opposing party. They are often recognizable by
voice, and even sport nicknames such as "Yellowman" and
"Mummo" (NOTE: Mummo is a nickname used to impugn the
intelligence of President Kufuor. END NOTE) The level of
credibility afforded their statements is hard to gauge, but
there is no doubting the entertainment value for Ghanaians
stuck in tedious traffic, many of whom have become addicted
to talk radio shows.


7. Two recent examples point to a burgeoning attempt to
professionalize talk radio, and a general desire by the media
to monitor itself. In the first, an NDC Member of Parliament
on an Accra station declared that the ban on firearms at
polling stations did not extend to registered firearms. He
further stated that any person whose name is not on the voter
register should be prevented from voting -- by force if
necessary. Although protocol demanded a degree of deference
to the MP, the announcer did attempt to correct his
statements. Radio and print media caught on to the story,
however, and immediately published articles and editorials to
counter his incorrect comments, lambaste the MP, and allow
the Electoral Commission the public space to set the record
straight. In the second instance of journalists policing
themselves, an Accra station with national coverage has moved
away from taking phone calls, choosing instead to take text
messages and e-mails from the public, a practice which allows
more control over the conversation.

...AND THE CITIZENS FOLLOW


8. Beyond media efforts to advance peace, civic
organizations, NGOs, and think tanks have been putting
together an endless series of forums devoted to educating the
public on acceptable behavior at the polling place, inviting
members of the Electoral Commission to speak about the
transparency of the process, and urging voters to accept
election results. Much of this has been funded by
Development Partners and overseas NGOs. The British High
Commission sponsored two presidential debates. At the end of
the second debate, all four candidates stood, held hands, and
made a pledge for peace. The NCCE has been traveling
throughout Ghana with a voter education project, explaining
the voting process and showing a video. When Poloff asked
what the video was, they replied "Hotel Rwanda." With World
Bank funding, some of Ghana's most accomplished musicians
came together a la "We are the World" to produce "Ghana
First: We Want Peace," a beautiful piece of pop music that
addresses the upcoming elections and is being played almost
constantly on Ghana's FM stations. Joy FM, one of Accra's
most popular stations, is sponsoring an "American Idol" style
competition for original music promoting peaceful elections.


9. On November 14, Ghana's Vice President Aliu Mahama
supervised the destruction of more than 700 small arms and
weapons, and used the occasion to refer to the need for
peaceful elections. "After the December 7 general election,"
he said, "life will still go on, children will continue to go
to school, market women will go to the market, workers will
go to their workplaces, and this beloved country of ours will
still be Ghana, the beacon of hope for Africa." On November
16-18, the Ghana Armed Forces ran a series of exercises to
prepare for the provision of security during the elections
that almost appeared to be more public relations than
maneuvers. Monday morning headlines trumpeted the success of
the weekend drills and the preparedness of the various

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security forces to assure a tranquil day of polling on all
fronts.


10. On November 19, before an international soccer match
with Tunisia, Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, came on
to the field not in their usual colorful jerseys, but in
white shirts emblazoned with the words "Peaceful Elections."
The National Union of Ghana Students opened a crusade to
educate students on the need for violence-free elections.
Businesses have begun to use peaceful elections for public
service advertising. One firm launched an essay competition
with the theme of "Violence-Free Ghana." On November 20,
Poloff met with a "focus group" of seven younger (up to
mid-30s) Muslim business and community leaders in Nima, one
of Accra's densely settled low income neighborhoods. Nima
has in the past been an NDC stronghold, but three parties
were represented in the group. The conversation was
freewheeling, and none of the participants was shy about
extolling the virtues of his party. However, they all agreed
that a peaceful election was critical for Ghana and its
economic development. The participants described community
events, such as peace walks and the preaching of messages of
peace in the mosque and churches. Embassy local staff tell
us that peaceful elections have been a leit motif in Sunday
sermons and Friday messages in the mosque. At Accra's
Catholic Church, parishoners are urged to support peaceful
elections by doing five decades on the rosary every day.
Most churches have cancelled services on election day (a
Sunday),and have urged their flocks to return directly home
after voting and to stay off of the streets.


11. Not a single day has gone by in the past several months
without a walk for peace, a rally for peace, a forum to
discuss peaceful elections, an ecumenical council to pray for
peace, a concert for peace, a soccer match for peace -- Ghana
is mad for peace! Get in a taxi or go to a market, and when
you ask about the elections, the answer is invariably, "We
are just praying for peace." Most Ghanaians have a strong
opinion about which party they favor, but except for the most
rabid partisans, peace trumps even an election victory.
There is little doubt that this state of mind is the result
of an underlying fear of the instablility that might be
fostered by violence or a contested or inconclusive election.
But in the overall context of African nations, Ghana is a
peaceful country and Ghanaians tend to be a peaceful people.
This country has not known violent revolution or civil war.
While no one can predict peaceful elections with total
certainty, and isolated instances of violence on election day
might even be expected, the desire for peace among the people
of Ghana is genuine. If a disgruntled losing party decides
to take its beef out on the street, it seems very unlikely
that the masses would follow.
TEITELBAUM