President John Dramani Mahama has withdrawn Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed from his role as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria with immediate effect, after allegations of vote-buying surfaced during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency.
A statement signed by the President’s Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the directive was issued to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to begin the necessary administrative and diplomatic steps to enforce the recall.
The Presidency explained that although claims of voter inducement were raised against more than one aspirant in the contest, Baba Jamal stood out because he was the only contestant holding a public appointment at the time.
The statement also noted that the NDC has opened its own investigations into the allegations, following a public comment by the party’s General Secretary.
The President said the action was taken “strictly in view of the standards of conduct expected of public officers,” adding that it was aimed at protecting the integrity of public office and avoiding any perception of conflict with the government’s Code of Conduct for Political Appointees.
