President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate recall of Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed from his position as Ghana’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This is contained in a press release signed by Government Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
“The decision follows allegations of voter inducement in today’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency, in which Mr Baba Jamal, a candidate, participated,” a portion of the statement reads.
“In his directive to the Minister for Foreign Affairs recalling Mr Baba Jamal as High Commissioner, the President noted that, while the allegations of vote-buying were made against multiple candidates who contested the primaries, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among them,” he explained.
“The President has also noted the public statement by the General Secretary of the NDC indicating that the Party has commenced its own investigations into the allegations arising from the primaries. Without prejudice to the ongoing internal party processes, and strictly in view of the standards of conduct expected of public officers, the President considers it necessary to act decisively to preserve the integrity of public office and to avoid any perception of impropriety or conflict with the Government’s Code of Conduct for Political Appointees,” Mr Ofosu further stated.
“The recall takes effect immediately, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been directed to take the necessary administrative and diplomatic steps to give effect to this directive,” the statement said.
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.
