Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal, has won the parliamentary primary of the National Democratic Congress held on February 7.
He polled 431 votes against his closest contender, Hajia Amina Adam, who secured 399 votes.
With this feat, he will face off with the New Patriotic Party’s candidate and others on March 3 during the by-election scheduled by the Electoral Commission.
In a related development, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has denied supporting one of the candidates in the Ayawaso East parliamentary primary of the National Democratic Congress.
This is contained in a press release dated February 7.
“The Office of the Greater Accra Regional Minister categorically denies reports alleging that the Regional Minister is campaigning for or supporting any candidate, including the Ayawaso East Chairman, in today’s by-election,” a portion of the press release stated.
It explained that, “The Minister’s presence at the location was not for political activity or to support any individual or group. Having just returned from the funeral of a fallen comrade, and acting on security briefings received, the Minister deemed it necessary to personally visit the area to monitor the situation and ensure calm, safety, and public order.
According to the press release, “The safety and security of residents of Greater Accra remain the Minister’s primary responsibility. Aside from an official visit to convey condolences following the passing of the sitting Member of Parliament, the Regional Minister and his tearn have not visited the constituency at any other time.
“Claims linking the Minister to partisan political activities are false, inaccurate, and misleading. The general public is therefore urged to disregard these reports,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey has stated that the national executive of the party is appalled by the widespread incidence of vote buying in the parliamentary primary held on February 7.
This is contained in a press release dated February 7.
“The attention of the national executives of the NDC has been drawn to the widespread incidents of inducement and vote buying allegedly perpetuated by some aspirants at the primaries in the Ayawaso East constituency today. The party vehemently condemns these actions in no uncertain terms as they represent an affront to the values and principles of the party and the reset agenda the party is championing,” Mr Kwetey wrote.
“The party is immediately instituting a full-scale investigation into this matter and will take a swift action against any candidate found culpable.
The party also wishes to make it clear that in the future, more drastic sanctions would be taken including possibly cancelling elections, when such incidents come to the attention of the party,” he warned.
3news sources reported earlier that some contestants in the Ayawaso East parliamentary primary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are alleged to be buying votes of delegates.
Some of them are said to be paying for the votes in cash or kind.
“Some of things delegates are benefitting from apart from cash include refrigerators, TV, motorbikes, ice chest, bag of rice,” our sources reported.
Some aspirants are said to be dolling out as much as GHC3,000 per delegate.
The practice is said to be widespread at the numerous polling stations. The delegates are also said to be demanding money openly.
It is further alleged that one delegate who is known to belong to one camp went to another camp to demand money but was exposed.
The candidates vying for the NDC’s slot are; Mohammed Ramme, the NDC Constituency Chairman; Amina Adam, widow of the late Member of Parliament; Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria; Yakubu Azindow; and Najib Mohammed.
Background
The Electoral Commission (EC) set the by-election on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
The decision follows the unfortunate death of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso East Constituency, Mahama Naser Toure, which has rendered the seat vacant.
A statement signed and issued by the Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of operations said it was also in accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution, as amended.
