President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the immediate recall of Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, following allegations of voter inducement during the National Democratic Congress parliamentary primary in Ayawaso East constituency.
The directive, issued Saturday night through a statement signed by Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, comes hours after Baba Jamal won the primary with 431 votes, defeating his closest rival Hajia Amina Adam who polled 399 votes.
The Presidency said that although allegations of vote buying were made against multiple candidates who contested the primary, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among them, necessitating decisive action to preserve the integrity of public office.
“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,” the statement said.
The recall takes immediate effect, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs directed to take the necessary administrative and diplomatic steps to implement the directive.
President Mahama acknowledged a public statement by the NDC’s General Secretary indicating that the party has commenced its own investigations into allegations arising from the primaries.
The decision underscores the administration’s commitment to ethical standards among political appointees, even as internal party processes continue.
Baba Jamal, a former deputy minister and veteran politician, has come under scrutiny after his campaign team reportedly distributed 32 inch television sets and food items to delegates who participated in the election.
Footage circulating on social media showed delegates allegedly receiving the television sets said to have been distributed by Baba Jamal’s campaign team.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Saturday, Baba Jamal defended the distribution of the items, describing them as gifts rather than inducements.
“Sharing the TVs is only a gift, but allowing that gift to influence your votes is what is wrong,” he told journalists, maintaining that such gestures should not sway voters’ decisions.
The former lawmaker asserted on authority that there was nothing wrong if he shared gifts, assuring that it had no bearing on the outcome of the election.
Despite the controversy, the primary proceeded under tight security, with over 1,100 accredited delegates casting ballots at the Nima Cluster of Schools in Accra.
Mohammed Ramne secured 88 votes, Dr Yakubu Azindow obtained 45 votes, while Najib Sani received one vote, according to provisional results.
The NDC condemned what it described as widespread incidents of inducement and vote buying during the primary in a statement issued Saturday by General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
The party announced it had instituted a full scale investigation into the matter and would take swift action against any candidate found culpable.
“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,” the statement said.
The NDC subsequently established a three member committee chaired by former minister Kofi Totobi Quakyi to investigate the allegations, with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and legal practitioner Emefa Fugah serving as members.
The committee has been mandated to submit its findings by Tuesday, February 10, 2026, and propose sanctions where necessary.
The Ayawaso East primary was held to select a candidate for a by election scheduled for March 3, 2026, following the death of sitting Member of Parliament Naser Toure.
Baba Jamal’s victory defied pre election surveys by Global InfoAnalytics, which had projected Hajia Amina Adam would lead with 58 percent support among delegates while Baba Jamal would secure 32 percent.
Pollster Mussa Dankwah suggested that alleged inducements may have altered the outcome, stating in a social media post that it took bribes to defeat science and data.
The recall of Baba Jamal marks a significant development in Ghana’s political landscape, with President Mahama demonstrating willingness to take action against serving officials accused of ethical violations, even within his own party.
Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed was appointed Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria by President Mahama and had been serving in that capacity while maintaining his political activities within the NDC.
He previously served as Member of Parliament for Akwatia constituency from 2013 to 2017 and held various ministerial positions during previous NDC administrations.
The Electoral Commission has fixed March 3, 2026 for the Ayawaso East by election, where Baba Jamal will face candidates from other political parties including the New Patriotic Party.
