By Daniel Bampoe
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has moved to defend its Ayawaso East parliamentary candidate, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, following allegations of vote buying during the party’s February 7 primary.
Party officials insist the internal disciplinary measures taken and the subsequent investigative process adequately address the controversy, even as legal and procedural challenges complicate calls for annulment.
The Ayawaso East by-election was triggered by the sudden death of sitting MP Mahama Naser Toure on January 4, 2026, creating a vacancy in a constituency historically regarded as a stronghold for the NDC.
Baba Jamal, a High Commissioner to Nigeria until his recent recall, emerged victorious in the primary, defeating Hajia Amina Adam, the late MP’s widow, and three other aspirants.
However, the primary quickly became embroiled in allegations that television sets, cash, boiled eggs and other items had been distributed to delegates to bribe them— claims that some attributed directly to Baba Jamal’s campaign, leading to his recall from diplomatic service.
In response to the allegations, the NDC established a special investigative committee, chaired by former Information Minister Kofi Totobi Quakyi, to examine claims of inducement and vote buying.
The committee acknowledged that illegal activities occurred during the primary, including the distribution of gifts and cash to delegates.
However, it clarified that the misconduct was not attributable to a single candidate, describing it as a systemic challenge within party primaries rather than the sole responsibility of Baba Jamal.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, lawyer and former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini, a member of the investigative committee, explained that while the committee recommended annulment, legal and procedural constraints made this difficult.
The primary was conducted under the supervision of the Electoral Commission (EC), and the results were certified as credible.
Fuseini emphasized that the NDC could not simply overturn an EC-certified result without risking the integrity of the Commission and potential legal backlash.
“The elections were conducted and supervised by the Electoral Commission. The results were certified as credible. Governance-wise, annulling the results could destroy the sanctity and integrity of the EC,” Fuseini said, highlighting the legal hurdles that limit internal party action.
He noted that the NDC constitution provides limited recourse for internal annulment, and any challenge would likely require court intervention.
Meanwhile, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Mustapha Gbande, defended the party’s handling of the situation, stressing that Baba Jamal had already faced disciplinary action. He revealed that President John Dramani Mahama reprimanded Baba Jamal, aligning the response with the government’s “reset agenda” and a new code of conduct for appointees, described as the first of its kind in Ghana.
According to Gbande, the party’s action represents a “drastic position” meant to serve as a warning and regulatory precedent for other political actors, even though sanctions were limited by constitutional authority.
“Baba Jamal, as the only senior government appointee involved, was reprimanded by the President. That decision is part of the first-ever code of conduct that governs all government appointees,” Gbande said, adding that further action against other aspirants would require exceeding the party’s authority and venturing into the role of a state institution, which is beyond its mandate.
Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the NDC, Rashid Tanko Computer, also downplayed concerns that the allegations would affect Baba Jamal’s prospects in the March 3 by-election, stating that the electorate is aware of the party’s track record and would vote based on performance rather than controversy.
“The people of Ayawaso are very decent. They know who they want to represent them. They will vote for the NDC,” he said during an interview on Channel One Newsroom.
The Ayawaso East by-election is now set to be contested by Baba Jamal for the NDC and Baba Ali, the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), among other aspirants.
While the party seeks to project unity and discipline, the episode has reignited discussions about vote buying and inducement in internal party elections, underscoring a persistent challenge for Ghanaian political parties striving for credibility and adherence to democratic norms.
