Ayawaso East Constituency and the By-Election Context

Baba Jamal
The Ayawaso East parliamentary seat in the Greater Accra Region became vacant following the death of the incumbent MP, Mahama Naser Toure. This vacancy triggered a by-election scheduled for 3 March 2026. Ahead of that by-election, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) held an internal primary on 7 February 2026 to choose its candidate.

The Primary Poll: Results and Outcome
At the NDC parliamentary primary:
Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed (Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria) received 431 votes.

Hajia Amina Adam was the runner-up with 399 votes.
Other candidates included Mohammed Ramme (88 votes), Dr. Yakubu Azindow (45), and Mohammed Najib Sani (1).

The result was narrow but decisive, and Jamal was declared winner, making him the NDC’s candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election.
After the declaration, Baba Jamal expressed gratitude and called for unity within the party, vowing to work with all members ahead of the by-election.

Controversy and Vote-Buying Allegations
Almost immediately after the primary, serious allegations of inducement and vote-buying emerged:
Reports and images circulated that delegates received 32-inch televisions and boiled eggs during the voting process items alleged to have been distributed by Jamal’s campaign team.

The NDC national leadership condemned these allegations, calling them a violation of party values and internal electoral rules, and launched an internal investigation.

The party set up a three-member committee to probe the claims; the committee’s report was expected soon after the primary.
National Response and Oversight
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) also began an investigation into alleged vote-buying, vote-selling, and related conduct during the primary. An OSP officer was reportedly impeded while trying to serve a notice linked to that probe, leading to a further inquiry by the office.

Moreover, President John Dramani Mahama recalled Baba Jamal from his diplomatic post as High Commissioner to Nigeria, citing the need to uphold ethical standards for public officials amidst the allegations an action intended to ensure no public officer is shielded from scrutiny.

Is Baba Jamal “Above the Law”?
No. Here’s why:
Investigations are ongoing both by the NDC’s internal committee and by the statutory Office of the Special Prosecutor. Neither has yet concluded, and no judicial ruling has been made.

The president’s decision to recall Baba Jamal signals that public officers can be held accountable even while allegations are being examined.
Public commentators (such as policy think-tank leaders) have called for the primary result to be annulled if evidence shows the process was unfair.

In other words, the vote count (431 vs. 399) stands for now and gives Jamal the nomination, but its legitimacy is being challenged and could be altered depending on what the investigations uncover.

What Happens Next?
NDC Internal Report: The party’s investigative committee will report its findings and may recommend:
Upholding the result,
Sanctions against individuals, or
Re-running the primary if substantial violations are proven.

OSP Findings: If the OSP finds evidence of actual vote-buying or other illegal conduct, legal actions could follow, potentially impacting Jamal’s candidacy.
By-Election Campaign: Unless the primary is annulled, Jamal will lead the NDC in the Ayawaso East by-election scheduled for 3 March 2026.

Broader Implications
The controversy has sparked nationwide debate on:
Internal party democracy and ethics,
Enforcement of anti-corruption norms, and
Separation between public office and partisan campaigning.
These issues go beyond one constituency and reflect wider expectations for accountability and fair electoral conduct in Ghana.

Mustapha Bature Sallama.
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal investigation and Intelligence Analysis.
International Conflict Management and Peace Building.USIP
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