US embassy cable - 05ACCRA1775

UNCLAS ACCRA 001775 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, GH, GOG 
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION NDC RETAINS SEAT IN PARLIAMENTARY 
BY-ELECTION 
 
 
1.  (U) In a hotly contested by-election in Accra on 
August 30, the opposition National Democratic 
Congress (NDC) party retained its seat in 
Odododiodio constituency, beating the New Patriotic 
Party (NPP) by a substantial margin.  Turnout was 
55%, typical for a by-election.  Embassy observers 
noted the heavy presence of police, party monitors, 
and domestic observers in an election that was free 
and fair.  The atmosphere was somewhat tense, due to 
some pre-election scuffles; however, despite some 
minor disagreements over procedures, polling 
proceeded smoothly. 
 
2.  (SBU) Comment:  This by-election received 
intense national media and political attention.  Not 
surprisingly, the opposition NDC has touted its 
victory as an indication of the declining popularity 
of the Kufuor administration and his NPP party.  The 
NPP invested a great deal of political capital into 
the election and feels stung.  However, the 
Odododiodio result does not affect the party balance 
in parliament and will have no major impact on 
national politics.  The election was largely about 
the strength of the candidates:   the NDC's 
candidate was a school teacher, whereas the ruling 
NPP had nominated an inarticulate, party-switching 
chauffeur whose sole qualification was that he is 
the son of the former (deceased) NDC 
parliamentarian.  Furthermore, the NDC seemed better 
mobilized to turn out its base.  The NPP also failed 
to win votes through a last-minute spate of public 
works projects (tarring roads and installing 
electric lights).  The seriousness the Electoral 
Commission and the police demonstrated in preparing 
for the election, and the free, fair, and generally 
peaceful result demonstrate again Ghana's 
determination to institutionalize and routinize its 
democratic process. 
 
LANIER