VZCZCXRO2115
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #1119/01 2961139
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231139Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8409
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001119 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KCRM KCOR PHUM PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA POLITICAL ROUNDUP SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009 
 
REF: Accra 1085, Accra 1068 
 
ACCRA 00001119  001.6 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) Following is an Embassy Accra compilation of political 
highlights from late September to early October that were not 
otherwise covered in mission reporting.  This report covers the 
following issues: 
 
-- President nominates new ministers to replace those implicated in 
corruption scandal 
-- Chaotic Scenes mar NPP Constituency polls 
-- Remains of murdered Ghanaians returned home 
-- Ghana@50 Corruption Hearing drawing to a close 
 
PRESIDENT REPLACES MINISTERS IMPLICATED IN CORRUPTION 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Following the forced resignation of two GOG ministers 
implicated in the Mabey and Johnson corruption scandal (reftels), 
President Mills has nominated Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, MP for 
Kpone-Katamanso, as Minister of State at the Presidency; and Dr. 
Benjamin Kumbour (formerly the Deputy Minister of Health) as 
Minister of Health.  Mills also nominated Dr. Nii Oakley Nii 
Quaye-Kumah, MP for Krowor, to take Kumbour's position as Deputy 
Health Minister. 
 
¶3. (SBU) In addition, Baba Kamara, whose selection as High 
Commissioner to Nigeria was delayed after he was named in the Mabey 
and Johnson case (ref B), was reinstated October 19 to the Nigeria 
position by President Mills.  An NDC official told POL Chief October 
13 that Kamara had only served as an agent for the company and there 
was no evidence he was directly involved in the alleged bribery. 
 
CHAOTIC SCENES MAR NPP CONSTITUENCY POLLS 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) The media reported on chaotic scenes across the country 
during the election of polling station executives for the main 
opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of its December 
conference to select new national party executives. [Note: Under the 
NPP's newly amended party constitution, Polling Station Executives 
will elect Constituency Executives, who will comprise an electoral 
college to choose the party's presidential aspirants.  Therefore, 
these party elections are seen as a crucial first step in the 
selection of the party leadership. End Note].  Some NPP supporters 
have complained that the process is being manipulated to elect 
constituency executives favorable to one or another of the party's 
prospective leaders. 
 
¶5. (U) Elections were suspended in several cases, and irregularities 
were alleged in a number of districts where elections took place. 
The NPP has played down reports of widespread irregularities in the 
process, citing "only minor hitches in some of the centers." 
 
REMAINS OF SIX MURDERED GHANAIANS RETURNED HOME 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶6. (U) The remains of six Ghanaians who were murdered in the Gambia 
four years ago were repatriated to Ghana October 18 accompanied by 
the Gambian Health Minister.  The remains of two additional 
Ghanaians have yet to be returned.  In 2006 it was reported that 44 
Ghanaian nationals were abducted and murdered, but a fact finding 
team set up by ECOWAS and the AU to investigate the killings was 
unable to confirm the numbers reported by the media. 
 
¶7. (U) The issue assumed a political dimension during the 2008 
elections as the former NPP government was accused of insensitivity 
and ineptitude for failing to apply sufficient pressures on the 
Gambian government to seek justice for the murdered Ghanaians. 
After the ECOWAS/AU team presented its report to the Ghanaian 
government, Foreign Minister Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni said Ghana 
accepted the report and that the country would make no claims beyond 
the facts presented by the team. 
 
INQUIRY INTO GHANA@50 CELEBRATIONS DRAWS TO A CLOSE 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶8. (U) A Presidential Commission continues to investigate the 
activities of the former government's Ghana@50 Secretariat, due to 
allegations of corruption, malfeasance and cronyism.  Since its 
establishment in July, the Commission has taken evidence from more 
than 200 witnesses, including suppliers, contractors, consultants, 
and officials involved in the celebration of Ghana's 50th 
anniversary of independence in 2007. 
 
¶9. (U) During the week of October 13, the former Chief Executive of 
the Ghana@50 Secretariat, Dr. Charles Wereko Brobby, testified 
before the Commission after being subpoenaed.  Wereko Brobby 
answered accusations that the Secretariat failed to follow 
appropriate procedures in awarding contracts, leading to the 
disbursement of money for projects that did not occur or were not 
completed, and that the Secretariat failed to pay for some projects 
that were completed.  Wereko Brobby acknowledged some problems, but 
 
ACCRA 00001119  002.5 OF 002 
 
 
claimed that he acted pursuant to an Executive Order issued by 
President Kufuor [Comment: Wereko Brobby implied that an Executive 
Order permitted the Secretariat to bypass procurement regulations, 
but there has so far been no evidence of such an Executive Order. 
Former President Kufuor's Chief of Staff may be able to shed more 
light on this issue.  He is scheduled to testify before the 
Commission on October 23. End Comment.].