The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has congratulated newly elected Member of Parliament for East Ayawaso, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, for winning the constituency’s by-election.
However, the Speaker says the lawmaker appears to have skipped the effect of a new law which is yet to be passed by the Legislature.
Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony of the MP, Speaker Bagbin said events preceding his victory have triggered urgent action in the House regarding a private member’s bill filed by one legislator.
Asante Akyem North MP, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, initiated the private members’ bill to amend the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) to introduce campaign financing regime in Ghana’s politics.
The Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) regulates the registration and functioning of political parties but remains silent on campaign financing.
According to Ohene Frimpong, the rising cost of politics poses a serious threat to the country’s democracy, the reason Ghana needs to introduce a campaign financing regime to avert the situation.
He explains that although Ghana has had nine successful elections with four peaceful transfers of power since the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in 1992, the rising cost of politics, if not checked, will destroy everything the nation has built as far as democracy is concerned.
This, the Speaker says, is a bill that warrants urgency considering the fallout of the processes that preceded the East Ayawaso by-election.
It was alleged that the candidate hopefuls of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) bribed delegates during the party’s primary, where television sets and money were some of the things the recipients confirmed on TV.
The party leadership formed a committee to probe the issue, after which Baba Jamal, who emerged winner at the primary, was cleared to contest. It was alleged that both candidates bribed the delegates.
Prior to the party’s directive for a probe, the Majority caucus in Parliament had asked that Baba Jamal’s candidacy be stripped since the bribery allegations contravenes the tenets of a free and fair election.
After his swearing-in on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Mr. Bagbin said the circumstances surrounding the by-election have prompted the House to expedite action on the bill submitted by the independent lawmaker.
“Your winning this by-election has also triggered urgent action in this House. And so we have in this House a proposed private members’ bill , which is meant to amend the Criminal and Other Offences Act to include conduct and acts during by-elections and also primaries of political parties.
“It’s important I draw attention to this because we need all of you to come together for us to do what we believe is right.
“And so, I’ll congratulate you because you followed what was the law. But we are now going to change that law and make sure that the sentiments and concerns that Ghanaians have raised become bidding law on all of us,” Speaker Bagbin said.
