AF/W DIRECTOR DOUGHERTY MEETS NPP CANDIDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ACCRA 000690 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/FO AND AF/W E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2028 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON SNAR GH SUBJECT: AF/W DIRECTOR DOUGHERTY MEETS NPP CANDIDATE AKUFO-ADDO, ELECTORAL COMMISSION, AND CPP LEADERSHIP REF: A. ACCRA 627 ¶B. ACCRA 623 ¶C. ACCRA 618 ¶D. ACCRA 617 ¶E. ACCRA 612 ¶F. ACCRA 605 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sue K. Brown for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On May 20 New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo told visiting AF/W Director Thomas Dougherty that he was optimistic about his party's chances in the December election. While acknowledging problems with inflation, corruption and narcotics, Akufo-Addo lauded the NPP's handling of the economy. Regarding the Electoral Commission (EC),Akufo-Addo claimed that the evidence does not support "bloated" voter rolls, and said that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was aware of this. In a later meeting, officials of the EC denied that the Ashanti registers were inflated, and said that the parties understood this. However, the opposition Convention People's Party (CPP) echoed NDC concerns (reported Septel) over allegedly inflated Ashanti voter registers, the government's failure to adequately fund the EC, and delays in voter registration. End Comment. Meeting with NPP Presidential Candidate Nana Akufo-Addo -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) On May 20 visiting AF/W Director Thomas Dougherty, accompanied by POLOFF, met with NPP presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo. Akufo-Addo provided an overview of the upcoming election and the political situation in Ghana. Akufo-Addo said Ghanaians were united in a desire for a democratic future for the country, and expressed confidence in his party's chances for election, predicting that a run-off would not be necessary. He also expressed confidence that the elections would happen without serious problem, and chided his NDC opponents for pursuing an "Odinga strategy," whereby the opposition, prior to the election, calls into question the legitimacy of the electoral process. The NDC, he noted, was still trying to "stigmatize" the 2004 election. He cited accusations of inflated voting rolls in the Ashanti Region, the heartland of NPP support. He claimed that the EC's data does not support any evidence of irregularities or additional names being added to the voter rolls. (NOTE: Despite Akufo-Addo's claims, the EC has acknowledged that the �0A;data showing 100% increases in 13 Ashanti constituencies came from within the EC. END NOTE). Akuffo-Addo said that NDC concerns about the EC have not received much popular support to date, showing the futility of their efforts. He supports funding the EC at the necessary level, but noted the EC needed to say what additional support was necessary. Asked about delays in the voter registration process, he replied that a new date to begin the process had been set for June. Narcotics and Foreign Affairs -------------- 3, (C) Akufo-Addo admitted that corruption and drug trafficking were problems in Ghana, saying that trafficking began under former NDC President Rawlings. He said that cases of corruption exist, and resulted from weaknesses in the system for accountability, such as the need for more prosecutors. He noted that as Attorney General he initiated the Ghana Police Service's Serious Crimes Unit. He described the growth in the narcotics trade as a "canker" and that while penetration into Ghana was still limited, it was an issue that could not be taken for granted. Ghana's institutional capacity to fight trafficking was limited, according to Akufo-Addo, who noted limits on the country's ability to patrol its borders. He added that further assistance from donors, including the U.S., would be needed. ¶4. (C) Akufo-Addo said Ghana's relations with the United States were important, and he welcomed what he described as a growing official engagement by the U.S. in West Africa. He said most Ghanaians were pro-American, and noted that President Bush received a strong reception in the country--"Iraq is a long ways away," he added. As Ghana progresses he expects that Ghanaians will adopt a more nationalist tone, a reflection of more national self-confidence. On foreign policy, Akufo-Addo said that there would be no real change in focus if he was elected. Ghana would continue to remain engaged in Africa and participate in UN and AU sanctioned peacekeeping operations. He said that he was "more a pan-Africanist" than President Kufour. On Zimbabwe, he noted that Secretary Rice was willing ACCRA 00000690 002 OF 003 to speak out, but that African foreign ministers were reticient. Meeting with the Electoral Commission -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Later on May 20 AF/W Director Dougherty and POLOFF met with Electoral Commission (EC) Deputy Commissioner Safo Katanka and Director of Information Technology, Hubert Akumiah. Concerning reports of inflated voter lists in the Ashanti region, Katanka said that "the register is not bloated," and that all of the political parties understood this to be the case. Akumiah added that some statistics had been mis-applied, and that someone had seen the figures and drawn the wrong conclusion. As each registered voter is photo identified, Katanka explained, it is possible to determine if a voter has been registered twice. He said that a committee formed through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) would report and explain the situation to the public. ¶6. (SBU) Regarding delays in the voter registration process, Katanga explained that the process was delayed due to the need to obtain digital cameras and computer equipment, which he said would be in place by June. Katanka replied that the exercise will be completed in time for the parties to review the register for accuracy, and he gave September as a date for completion. He explained that the registration exercise will update the rolls, rather than provide a complete new register, will be done on a nation-wide basis, and not in stages, by geographic zones. The EC had proposed the zone idea earlier, but it was opposed by the parties, who feared opportunities for abuse. Katanka explained that the rolls were not updated last year, for budget reasons, but were previously updated in 2006 prior to local government elections. When asked whether the EC had adequate funding for the electoral process. Katanka noted that the EC Chairman had said there was adequate funding at this time, and then Kantanka inquired whether the U.S. had funds available. Meeting with the Convention People's Party -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Dougherty and POL Chief met later on May 20 with the leadership of the Convention People's Party (CPP),including Chairman Ladi Nylander, General Secretary Ivor Greenstreet, Public Affairs Secretary Kwesei Duduy, and National Women's Organizer Hajia Hamdatu Haruna. (NOTE: CPP Presidential candidate Paa Kwesei Nduom is currently traveling in the United States. END NOTE). CPP Platform -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Nylander provided a brief background on the CPP, noting that it is Ghana's oldest political party, and that the CPP was experiencing "a rejuvenation" with an all-new leadership team. The party's vision is to support the common man, social justice, freedom, job creation, development of civil society, and reducing the gap between rich and poor. He said people in all regions of Ghana need development, including increased manufacturing jobs. Nylander added that the CPP would encourage strong foreign direct investment in Ghana, and is keen to support women's empowerment, the rural poor, and greater decentralization. It also would continue to pursue a strong relationship with the U.S., and added that the CPP would also have fighting corruption and narcotics as top priorities. Criticism of Election Preparations -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Regarding the upcoming election, Nylander said the country must strive for a "higher standard of transparency," and said the CPP is eager to see the voter registers as soon as possible. He worried about delays in beginning the voter registration process, expressing hope that the EC does not publicize the voter rolls "at the eleventh hour," which would make it difficult for opposition parties to scrutinize the register. Nylander stressed that the CPP was not happy about the EC's delays, that the EC needs to "get back on schedule," and suggested that the USG help push the EC along. 10.(SBU) Nylander noted that in 2004 the EC gave parties only three weeks to inspect the registers before the election, and this was not sufficient. He also expressed concern of the allegedly inflated registers in the Ashanti region, and criticized the EC's poor data management procedures for permitting this to occur. The EC, he stressed, is consistently under-resourced by the government and has failed ACCRA 00000690 003 OF 003 to build its capacity. 11.(SBU) As a small party, Nylander and his colleagues noted that they face a challenge in getting their message out, and have limited access to the media due to funding limitations. Hajia Haruna said that international observers such as the Carter Center would be welcome to ensure the election is conducted properly. CPP-PNC Alliance? -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Greenstreet admitted that the CPP has been in discussions with the People's National Convention (PNC), Ghana's other small party with seats in Parliament, over an electoral alliance. He noted that the alliance is "unconfirmed," but that the CPP leader Nduom would be the Presidential candidate, and the PNC leader, Dr. Edward Mahama, would be the Vice Presidential candidate. He added that the CPP has many "sleeper cells" in Ghana who are sympathetic to the CPP but have "remained silent" and supported other parties. The CPP believes it can tap into this sentiment. (NOTE: On May 22 the media reported, including in a radio interview with Greenstreet, that the proposed alliance between the CCP and the NDC is off. More details will follow. END NOTE). Corruption/Narcotics -------------- 13.(SBU) Regarding corruption and narcotics, Greenstreet said that if government officials do not obey they law, they must be punished. However, Haruna said than in addressing corruption it was important to distinguish greed from need, and that both sides must be tackled. For many lower level employees, poor wages are a key factor in encouraging corruption, and this must be dealt with. Duduy added that in addition to law enforcement and prosecution, the government needs to educate children against drugs and improve treatment. Comment -------------- ¶14. (C) It is clear that the EC continues to be a focus of concern in the runup to December's election. The EC needs to demonstrate --in a timely and public manner -- that it has adequate funding to supervise an election and run-off election, competency to administer the update of the voter registration process, and the skill to explain credibly the circumstances behind the alleged "bloated" voter rolls in Ashanti. Failure to address these matters will reduce the Commission's already damaged credibility and could be used by opposition parties -- should they lose the December election -- to discredit the electoral process. The NPP is already accusing the NDC of crying foul pre-emptively, and the EC has not helped its cause through its lack of transparency and unwillingness to acknowledge responsibility for the Ashanti register issue (the controversial data originated with the EC itself). Fortunately, these issues are being discused constructively through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee, which provides an opportunity to resolve these problems well ahead of the December elections. End Comment ¶15. (U) This cable was cleared by AF/W Director Thomas Dougherty. BROWN