Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.5 d and e.
1. (C) Summary: During a January 26 meeting with PolChief,
former Vice President and NDC presidential candidate John
Evans Atta Mills provided additional details on an alleged
plot to assassinate former President Rawlings. He commented
on his health, saying he had received radiation therapy for a
sinus infection. Reconciliation between Rawlings and
President Kufuor would continue to be difficult, despite
Mills' recent meeting with Kufuor and former (returned) UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan. End summary.
SIPDIS
Rawlings Assassination Plots
----------------------------
2. (C) In a January 17 meeting with PolChief and visiting
AF/W Desk Officer (reftel), Mills claimed to know about a
recent plot to assassinate former president J.J. Rawlings.
When asked for more details in the January 26 meeting, Mills
said some colleagues informed him about one month ago that
some members of the GOG and ruling NPP party had sent
professional assassins from the United States to assassinate
Rawlings in Ghana. Mills was clear that there was no USG
connection and he was not sure of the nationality of the
reported assassins. His colleagues had informed Rawlings,
who specifically asked that they brief Mills as well. Mills
communicated the information to officials working for
National Security Coordinator Francis Poku, but he never
heard back on this. Mills confirmed that he takes this
report seriously because of past apparent attempts to kill
Rawlings and because of the fact that Rawlings has many
enemies who would like to see him dead.
His Health
----------
3. (C) Mills acknowledged that his opponents continue to
use the issue of his health for political reasons. He told
PolChief he had contracted a serious sinus infection,
probably from swimming, which a Chinese doctor friend in
Ghana told him could be diagnosed using an MRI. Since Ghana
did not have MRI capabilities at that time, his Chinese
friend encouraged him to get an MRI in China, which he did.
The MRI confirmed his infection, which Chinese doctors
claimed would have to be treated with radiation therapy.
Mills said he did not want to have the treatment in China,
which he was told would take six weeks. Instead he sought
treatment in South Africa, where his nephew lives. South
African doctors confirmed the diagnosis and treated him with
radiation in his nasal passages. As a result of the
radiation and a soar throat from the therapy session, he was
unable to eat solids for several weeks and lost significant
weight, which he was warned would be an expected consequence
of the treatment. He told PolChief he is pleased with his
weight loss (which he maintains with dietary changes) and has
fully recovered from the sinus infection. He is frustrated
with the allegations that he has cancer or the most recent
allegation that he has heart problems and hopes these rumors
will eventually die down. He confirmed plans to go to South
Africa for a routine health checkup, which he said he has
long postponed.
Reconciliation
--------------
4. (C) Ghana needs political reconciliation, Mills stated,
adding that if he wins the 2008 election he will reach out to
President Kufuor. His attendance at the welcome reception
for visiting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on January 24
(his first time in the Castle in six years) was "a very easy
decision" because of his close relationship to Annan. When
the NDC was in power, the Rawlings government fought hard
(with support from the U.S., Mills acknowledged) to get Kofi
Annan selected as Secretary General. Mills is related to
Annan (they have nieces in common and they are both ethnic
Fantis). In addition, Mills said he went to the Castle to
"signal a desire for unity". Mills pointed out that many
senior members of the Kufuor government were once students of
his, like National Security Minister Poku, Attorney General
Ghartey and others. He does not bear ill will toward them,
he added.
5. (C) He was not overly optimistic about the chances for
broader reconciliation at this time, given the "bad blood"
between Rawlings and Kufuor. He concedd that Rawlings had
made mistakes in judgment ovr the years, is suspicious of
everyone and someties comes across "undiplomatically".
Mills also nted that he and Rawlings have hd serious
ACCRA 00000234 002 OF 002
differences in the past, and that because of this Mills did
not see a significant role for himself in reconciling the two
"Johns". He also blamed Kufuor, who Mills said "is all
smiles but a very vindictive person underneath" and
periodically fans the flames with provocative statements
about Rawlings. Mills thought Rawlings greatly respects Kofi
Annan, who he opined would try to reconcile President Kufuor
and the former president. Rawlings also reportedly greatly
respects former President Clinton, who Mills also thought
could play a useful mediating role in Ghana.
Comment
-------
6. (C) As we have noted before, we are unable to judge
Mills' take on the assassination plot. Rawlings tends to be
paranoid about his security. Foreign Service Health
Practitioner at post notes that MRIs are usually not required
to diagnose sinus problems unless a physician is concerned
about tumors. He also notes that radiation therapy is not
usually used to treat sinus infections (usually antibiotics
or surgical repairs are used), but that such therapy is more
likely used to treat some form of cancer. Foreign Service
Health Practitioner is a Physician Assistant, not a
specialist in the field. However, his medical observations
point to a potential bigger health problem, as does the fact
that to date Mills has not made public any health records to
dispel the rumors.
7. (C) Mills has increasingly opened up to PolChief and was
surprisingly willing to discuss his health in detail. This
speaks to the closer relationship this Mission has forged
with the NDC, which used to be more suspicious of the U.S.
and Embassy contact. We have also seen a greater receptivity
in our more recent meetings with President Rawlings and with
NDC Chairman Kwabena Adjei, who this week told PolChief the
Embassy had transformed its relationship with his party.
This strengthens our credentials as a neutral advocate for
democracy in Ghana and allows us to better influence the more
moderate tendencies within the NDC.
BRIDGEWATER
| MEETING WITH NDC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MILLS | |
2007 February 2, 12:58 (Friday) |
07ACCRA234_a |
CONFIDENTIAL |
CONFIDENTIAL |
|
-- Not Assigned -- |
6835 |
-- Not Assigned -- |
TEXT ONLINE |
-- Not Assigned -- |
TE - Telegram (cable) |
|
-- N/A or Blank -- -- N/A or Blank -- |
-- Not Assigned -- |
-- Not Assigned -- |
|
Content
Raw content
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000234
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017
TAGS: GH, PGOV, PINR
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH NDC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MILLS
REF: ACCRA 165
Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.5 d and e.
1. (C) Summary: During a January 26 meeting with PolChief,
former Vice President and NDC presidential candidate John
Evans Atta Mills provided additional details on an alleged
plot to assassinate former President Rawlings. He commented
on his health, saying he had received radiation therapy for a
sinus infection. Reconciliation between Rawlings and
President Kufuor would continue to be difficult, despite
Mills' recent meeting with Kufuor and former (returned) UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan. End summary.
SIPDIS
Rawlings Assassination Plots
----------------------------
2. (C) In a January 17 meeting with PolChief and visiting
AF/W Desk Officer (reftel), Mills claimed to know about a
recent plot to assassinate former president J.J. Rawlings.
When asked for more details in the January 26 meeting, Mills
said some colleagues informed him about one month ago that
some members of the GOG and ruling NPP party had sent
professional assassins from the United States to assassinate
Rawlings in Ghana. Mills was clear that there was no USG
connection and he was not sure of the nationality of the
reported assassins. His colleagues had informed Rawlings,
who specifically asked that they brief Mills as well. Mills
communicated the information to officials working for
National Security Coordinator Francis Poku, but he never
heard back on this. Mills confirmed that he takes this
report seriously because of past apparent attempts to kill
Rawlings and because of the fact that Rawlings has many
enemies who would like to see him dead.
His Health
----------
3. (C) Mills acknowledged that his opponents continue to
use the issue of his health for political reasons. He told
PolChief he had contracted a serious sinus infection,
probably from swimming, which a Chinese doctor friend in
Ghana told him could be diagnosed using an MRI. Since Ghana
did not have MRI capabilities at that time, his Chinese
friend encouraged him to get an MRI in China, which he did.
The MRI confirmed his infection, which Chinese doctors
claimed would have to be treated with radiation therapy.
Mills said he did not want to have the treatment in China,
which he was told would take six weeks. Instead he sought
treatment in South Africa, where his nephew lives. South
African doctors confirmed the diagnosis and treated him with
radiation in his nasal passages. As a result of the
radiation and a soar throat from the therapy session, he was
unable to eat solids for several weeks and lost significant
weight, which he was warned would be an expected consequence
of the treatment. He told PolChief he is pleased with his
weight loss (which he maintains with dietary changes) and has
fully recovered from the sinus infection. He is frustrated
with the allegations that he has cancer or the most recent
allegation that he has heart problems and hopes these rumors
will eventually die down. He confirmed plans to go to South
Africa for a routine health checkup, which he said he has
long postponed.
Reconciliation
--------------
4. (C) Ghana needs political reconciliation, Mills stated,
adding that if he wins the 2008 election he will reach out to
President Kufuor. His attendance at the welcome reception
for visiting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on January 24
(his first time in the Castle in six years) was "a very easy
decision" because of his close relationship to Annan. When
the NDC was in power, the Rawlings government fought hard
(with support from the U.S., Mills acknowledged) to get Kofi
Annan selected as Secretary General. Mills is related to
Annan (they have nieces in common and they are both ethnic
Fantis). In addition, Mills said he went to the Castle to
"signal a desire for unity". Mills pointed out that many
senior members of the Kufuor government were once students of
his, like National Security Minister Poku, Attorney General
Ghartey and others. He does not bear ill will toward them,
he added.
5. (C) He was not overly optimistic about the chances for
broader reconciliation at this time, given the "bad blood"
between Rawlings and Kufuor. He concedd that Rawlings had
made mistakes in judgment ovr the years, is suspicious of
everyone and someties comes across "undiplomatically".
Mills also nted that he and Rawlings have hd serious
ACCRA 00000234 002 OF 002
differences in the past, and that because of this Mills did
not see a significant role for himself in reconciling the two
"Johns". He also blamed Kufuor, who Mills said "is all
smiles but a very vindictive person underneath" and
periodically fans the flames with provocative statements
about Rawlings. Mills thought Rawlings greatly respects Kofi
Annan, who he opined would try to reconcile President Kufuor
and the former president. Rawlings also reportedly greatly
respects former President Clinton, who Mills also thought
could play a useful mediating role in Ghana.
Comment
-------
6. (C) As we have noted before, we are unable to judge
Mills' take on the assassination plot. Rawlings tends to be
paranoid about his security. Foreign Service Health
Practitioner at post notes that MRIs are usually not required
to diagnose sinus problems unless a physician is concerned
about tumors. He also notes that radiation therapy is not
usually used to treat sinus infections (usually antibiotics
or surgical repairs are used), but that such therapy is more
likely used to treat some form of cancer. Foreign Service
Health Practitioner is a Physician Assistant, not a
specialist in the field. However, his medical observations
point to a potential bigger health problem, as does the fact
that to date Mills has not made public any health records to
dispel the rumors.
7. (C) Mills has increasingly opened up to PolChief and was
surprisingly willing to discuss his health in detail. This
speaks to the closer relationship this Mission has forged
with the NDC, which used to be more suspicious of the U.S.
and Embassy contact. We have also seen a greater receptivity
in our more recent meetings with President Rawlings and with
NDC Chairman Kwabena Adjei, who this week told PolChief the
Embassy had transformed its relationship with his party.
This strengthens our credentials as a neutral advocate for
democracy in Ghana and allows us to better influence the more
moderate tendencies within the NDC.
BRIDGEWATER
Metadata
VZCZCXRO6378
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #0234/01 0331258
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 021258Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3571
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
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