Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed has rejected allegations of vote buying during the NDC’s Ayawaso East parliamentary primary, saying he is ready to cooperate fully with investigations launched by both the party and state authorities.
In a press release issued after his recall as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal said the claims being circulated in videos and on social media are false and do not reflect how he conducted himself during the February 7, 2026, primary.
“I… have not engaged in any vote buying or election malpractices,” he stated, adding that he is prepared to make himself available to assist the party’s investigative process “anytime.”
His statement follows a directive from President John Dramani Mahama ordering his immediate recall from Nigeria.
The Presidency said the decision was taken to protect the integrity of public office, noting that while allegations were made against multiple aspirants, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer in the contest.
The controversy stems from reports that some delegates were allegedly induced with items including 32-inch television sets, cash and motorbikes. Baba Jamal has maintained that any distribution of items linked to him was not intended to influence votes, insisting it was simply a personal act of generosity.
The NDC has since set up a three-member committee to investigate the allegations of inducement in the constituency primary.
Separately, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has also launched a real-time probe into the matter, including claims that an OSP officer was assaulted while attempting to serve an investigative directive on Baba Jamal.
Despite the unfolding investigations, Baba Jamal emerged winner of the primary and remains the party’s candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election scheduled for March 3, 2026.
He expressed appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve, saying: “I want to… thank H.E the President for the honour done me and the opportunity to serve my country.”
Baba Jamal also thanked party members in the constituency for what he described as their confidence in his leadership heading into the by-election.
