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Viewing cable 08ACCRA1510, GHANA ELECTIONS: ALL THEY ARE SAYING, IS GIVE

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08ACCRA1510 2008-11-28 09:33 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Accra
VZCZCXRO1379
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #1510/01 3330933
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 280933Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7304
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ACCRA 001510 
 
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." 
 
ACCRA 00001510  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
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 
 
ACCRA 00001510  003 OF 003 
 
 
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