VZCZCXRO0692
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #1048/01 2271556
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141556Z AUG 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6875
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001048 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR AF/W 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PGOV KDEM GH
SUBJECT: GHANA VOTER REGISTRATION --LONG LINES AND SUSPECT 
PRACTICES 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Ghana's long delayed voter registration 
exercise ended August 13, marked by long lines, insufficient 
materials, and accusations of partisan tampering with the 
process. EMBOFFs toured voter registration centers in Accra, 
Ashanti, Central and Western regions, finding long lines of 
young voter registrants and an Electoral Commission (EC) 
often struggling to cope.  Ghana's media and political 
parties have alleged that under-aged voters were registered, 
that people were  bused from other regions to register, and 
that double registration occurred. The EC extended the eleven 
day exercise by two days to accommodate the larger than 
anticipated lines. The EC's weak implementation raises 
concerns about its effectiveness and provides ammunition to 
those who will be inclined to doubt the fairness of the 
December election. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  From August 4 to 9 the POL section's LES Political 
Specialist and ECON Section Rangle Fellow visited the 
Central, Western and Ashanti Regions to observe the 
registration exercise.  The exercise was intended to allow 
new voters to register, and especially those who have turned 
eighteen since the last exercise in 2006. 
 
Central and Western Regions: 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) In the Central Region the team visited six polling 
stations in the towns of Cape Coast, Elmina and in rural 
areas. The team observed moderat lines with no visible 
security personnel at the centers.  In Cape Coast the EMBOFFs 
spoke with an EC official who described how three unknown 
suspects allegedly disrupted a registration center and 
intimidated people waiting in line, claiming the would-be 
registrants were not from Central Region.  The three also 
destroyed registration materials. The police responded, 
according to the source, but no arrests were made. In a 
second incident, the EC official said that underage people 
attempted to register.  The source was not certain if these 
people were successful, or if a "challenge form" was 
completed, per EC regulations.  EC registration agents told 
EMBOFFs about shortages of  election materials and of 
difficulties with equipment, such as cameras. 
 
¶4. (SBU) EMBOFFs were told by opposition National Democratic 
Congress (NDC) officials in the Central Region that nine 
buses were observed bringing voters to a registration center 
in one of the two parliamentary constituencies held by the 
NDC in the region.  The NDC officials had license plate 
numbers for the buses, some of which, they said, were 
operated by a public bus system. The NDC officials also 
reported that several of their supporters had been beaten by 
supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party.  The officials 
claimed that the police had turned a blind eye to the 
intimidation. The officials claimed to have a video showing 
intimidation tactics.  NDC officials also alleged that 
District Chief Executives (appointed by the President) were 
transporting people into Central Region and assisting in 
their registration.  EMBOFFs met with the NPP Central Region 
Secretary, who admitted to the transportation of would-be 
registrants by his party's parliamentary candidate, but said 
the ensuring violence "was just a minor incident." 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) In the Western Region EMBOFFs visited five 
registration centers, including some in the urban area of 
Takoradi-Sekondi and also in rural areas.  EMBOFFs toured 
three rural stations, each of which had been without 
registration forms for at least one day. Despite the lack of 
forms, some would-be registrants were patiently waiting to 
enroll.  In the urban areas lines were longer, and adequate 
materials were provided.  An EC official interviewed blamed 
the rural shortages on the difficulty of transporting 
materials on poorly maintained rural roads. 
 
Ashanti Region: 
-------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) EMBOFFs visited four registration centers in Kumasi, 
Ghana's second city and a stronghold for the governing NPP. 
They observed long lines and crowds of rowdy by-standers 
present at the Kumasi registration centers. In the Zongo, or 
Muslim section of the city, voter registration materials had 
run out and had not been restocked after two days. (Note: The 
Zongo is the only section of Kumasi represented by an 
opposition member of parliament). In nearby areas an official 
told EMBOFFs that depleted forms had been restocked within 
hours-- these areas had voted for the NPP in 2004. The 
Regional EC director told EMBOFFs that 200,000 forms had been 
allocated to Ashanti Region. 
 
 
ACCRA 00001048  002 OF 002 
 
 
Accra: 
-------- 
 
7.(SBU) POLOFF on August 7 visited two registration centers 
in low income neighborhoods of Accra. The registration sites 
had been relocated at mid-week, as equipment was shifted 
among districts, making it difficult to find the active 
centers. POLOFF observed long lines at both locations, with 
police officers present to watch the tired, but generally 
calm, crowds.  Some would-be voters told POLOFF they had been 
waiting in line over ten hours. Party representatives at the 
centers reported no problems. 
 
Comment: 
------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment. The EC was clearly unprepared for the 
number of would-be registrants. The EC had publicly said that 
it expected between 600,000 and 1 million new voters to 
register. The EC obtained only half of the computer and 
camera work stations needed for the exercise, a major factor 
contributing to the long lines and confusion about the 
location of registration centers.  The allegations of 
registration fraud are troubling. Throughout the exercise the 
local media carried stories of under-age registration and 
bused in registrants-- reports given credence by the higher 
than expected turnouts. The perception-- real or not-- that 
the EC was favoring the NPP is especially troubling, and will 
provide NDC supporters with a platform from which to 
challenge an unfavorable election result in December. The EC 
has  damaged its credibility as a neutral and competent body. 
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo 
Afari-Gyan, on August 13 apologized to registrants for the 
delays in the registration process. Post will continue to 
report on events. End Comment. 
 
 
BROWN