The name Baba Jamal has dominated political discourse following events surrounding the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency, which were held to select the party’s candidate for a by-election scheduled for March 3, 2026. At the center of the controversy is Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, popularly known as Baba Jamal, who until recently was Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.
Who is Baba Jamal, and what election did he contest?
Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed served as the deputy minister-designate for local government and rural development and holds an MPhil in international politics and a degree in law from the University of Ghana. He won the parliamentary seat for Akwatia constituency for the first time on 7th December 2012 on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress. He lost the seat to Mercy Ama Sey in the 2016 general elections.
From there, Baba Jamal contested the NDC parliamentary primaries in Ayawaso East two more times before the recent contest. In the most recent contest, he narrowly defeated Hajia Amina Adam, the widow of the late Member of Parliament for the constituency, to emerge as the NDC’s candidate for the upcoming by-election.
However, shortly after the primary ended, allegations of vote buying and inducement began circulating in the media.
What are the allegations against Baba Jamal?
Reports alleged that some delegates who voted in the Ayawaso East primary received items including 32-inch television sets, boiled eggs, and other goods. Critics claimed these items were distributed to influence voting behavior.
While Baba Jamal admitted to distributing television sets, he rejected claims that this amounted to vote buying. He insisted that he was known for supporting constituents and that his actions were being misinterpreted. He also disclosed that he had previously set aside substantial funds to provide loans to constituents.
Why was Baba Jamal recalled as high commissioner to Nigeria?
President John Dramani Mahama ordered the immediate recall of Baba Jamal from his position as Ghana’s high commissioner to Nigeria through a statement issued by the presidency. In the statement, the president directed the minister for foreign affairs to take the necessary administrative and diplomatic steps to effect the recall.
According to the Presidency, although allegations of voter inducement were made against multiple candidates who contested the primary, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among them. As such, his continued stay in office was considered inappropriate amid the controversy.
The statement explained that the recall was necessary to preserve the integrity of public office and avoid any perception of impropriety, in line with the government’s Code of Conduct for Political Appointees.
What steps has the NDC taken?
In response to the allegations, the NDC also issued a statement condemning the alleged conduct, describing it as inconsistent with the party’s values.
The party subsequently established a three-member committee to investigate the matter. The committee is chaired by former Minister for Information, Kofi Totobi Quakyi. Its members include Inusah Fuseini and Emefa Fugah. The committee’s report is expected by tomorrow, February 11, 2026.
Some have further called for the annulment of the results of the Ayawaso East primaries and the disqualification of any candidates found culpable of vote-buying.
How has Baba Jamal responded?
Reacting to both the recall and the allegations, Baba Jamal, in a statement, denied engaging in any vote buying or electoral malpractice and pledged to cooperate fully with investigations.
“I wish to state categorically that I, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, have not engaged in any vote buying or election malpractices, and I pledge to avail myself to assist the party in its investigation into the subject matter anytime,” the statement read.
He thanked President Mahama for the opportunity to serve as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria and expressed appreciation to the NDC in Ayawaso East for the confidence reposed in him to lead the party into the by-election.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor’s statement?
Beyond internal party processes, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) also commenced investigations into allegations of vote buying and vote selling linked to the Ayawaso East NDC primary.
In a statement, the OSP stated that its investigations cover the sources of funding for the alleged corrupt acts. It further alleged that during the conduct of the primary, Baba Jamal abetted individuals who physically assaulted an OSP officer who was attempting to serve an investigative directive related to the allegations.
As a result, the OSP has opened an additional investigation into the alleged assault of an authorized officer in the performance of official duties.
The OSP also reminded the public that vote buying, vote selling, intimidation, and acts of violence during elections are criminal offences under Ghanaian law and warned that offenders will be prosecuted.
Within the space of 24 hours, Baba Jamal won the Ayawaso East NDC primary, faced allegations of vote buying, publicly denied the claims, became the subject of party and state investigations, and was recalled from his diplomatic post as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.
As investigations continue, the outcome could have significant implications for the Ayawaso East by-election and broader efforts to curb vote buying in Ghana’s internal party elections.
