VZCZCXRO8879
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #2250 2681221
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251221Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2490
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ACCRA 002250 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV GH
SUBJECT: TWO NEW POLITICAL PARTIES IN GHANA 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Two new political parties emerged in Ghana in 
August, bringing the total number of parties in Ghana to eleven. 
The United Renaissance Party (URP), led by Kofi Wayo, is an NPP 
spin-off.  The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), formed by Obed 
Asamoah, is composed of disaffected former supporters of the main 
opposition NDC party.  At the moment, both parties are small and 
inconsequential, although the DFP bears watching.  End Summary. 
 
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The DFP 
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¶2. (U) The Electoral Commission has announced the certification of 
two new political parties.  The first, known as the Democratic 
Freedom Party (DFP), succeeded in recruiting "founders" from each of 
Ghana's 138 districts and has opened offices in at least two-thirds 
of them.  Its chairman is Obed Asamoah, a foreign minister under 
former President Rawlings, a former university lecturer, and a 
former Chairman of the main opposition party, the National 
Democratic Congress (NDC). 
 
¶3.  (SBU) In a recent meeting with Poloff and Pol FSN, Asamoah 
explained that his dissatisfaction with the NDC had been growing for 
some time.  Describing former President Jerry Rawlings as a 
"dictator" whose divisive rhetoric reflected his lack of tolerance 
of any dissent within the NDC, Asamoah was further disillusioned by 
the ugly scenes that took place at the party's national convention 
in 2005, including intimidation and violence against Rawlings 
dissenters.  At one point, Asamoah said his life had been 
threatened; he eventually concluded that he had no choice but to 
leave the NDC and try to launch a viable third party. 
 
¶4.  (U) Asamoah said the DFP would be a center-left "social 
democratic" party, endorsing more state intervention in the economy. 
 He cautioned that this did not mean more state ownership, but 
rather greater GOG assistance to key industries, such as agriculture 
and mining, to help them grow along the lines of the South Korean 
model.  In terms of foreign policy, Asamoah would maintain Ghana's 
tradition of following the lead of the African Union. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Looking ahead to 2008, Asamoah opined that the "shine was 
off" the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP); people were tired and 
would vote for change, he said.  He thought there was a good chance 
that no party would receive a majority of the presidential vote 
during the first round in 2008, and a strong third party would be 
appealing.  Asamoah has already received expressions of support from 
many NDC members from the reformist wing of the NDC, especially from 
the Ashanti and Volta Regions.  He hoped to attract more support 
from disaffected CPP party voters and ultimately from those favoring 
John Atta Mills as the NDC's standard bearer in 2008.  According to 
Asamoah, Rawlings was actively working against Atta Mills, making it 
impossible for him to gain the party's nomination for president. 
 
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The URP 
------- 
 
¶6.  (U) The Electoral Commission has also recently certified the 
United Renaissance Party (URP), making it the eleventh recognized 
political party in Ghana.  The URP's chair is Kofi Wayo, a gadfly 
businessman and former NPP candidate for parliament.  Opposed to 
politicians who enter government service merely to amass wealth, the 
party has launched a populist appeal, saying it would establish 
"credit schemes" for workers to provide them with economic security 
and a higher standard of living.  In media interviews, Wayo 
proclaimed that the Ghanaian economy should benefit Ghanaians, not 
merely satisfy the World Bank and IMF. 
 
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Comment 
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¶7.  (SBU) The DFP is attracting some prominent politicians but will 
need to reach out to voters who supported the NPP in 2004 if it is 
to become more than a spoiler, splitting the opposition vote in 
¶2008.  The URP is not taken seriously by most contacts.  The 
reaction to these new parties from the two main political parties 
has been muted.  One NDC insider told Poloff that his party, while 
panic-stricken at first, did not now consider the DFP to be a 
serious threat.  Nonetheless, the NDC is clearly watching the DFP, 
which could cut into its support base, especially if it attracts a 
high profile presidential candidate.  Some of our NDC contacts also 
refute the notion that Rawlings is working against Atta Mills.  End 
Comment. 
 
BRIDGEWATER