‘Kosua Ne Meko’ Baba Jamal In Trouble …Mahama sacks him as ambassador

By Cephas Larbi On Feb 9, 2026

Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed (Baba Jamal), winner of the just-ended National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary for the Ayawaso East Constituency, is now under investigation for multiple allegations of inducement and vote-buying were levelled against him.

Few hours after Baba Jamal was announced as winner of the elections last Saturday February 7, 2026, and while he was still in a celebration mood, an official communication from the Seat of Government announced he had been recalled from his position as Ghana’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His quit notice was to take immediate effect.

The Presidency explained while the allegations of vote-buying were made against multiple candidates who contested the primaries, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among them, therefore he was being kicked out of his position.

“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 recall takes effect immediately, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been directed to take the necessary administrative and diplomatic steps to give effect to this directive”, the statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communication and Spokesperson to the President noted.

Vote Buying

Baba Jamal won the primary on Saturday with 431 votes, securing 45%, while his closest contender, Hajia Amina Adam, secured 399 votes (41%), in a contest marred by alleged inducement and vote-buying involving some aspirants.

What got tongues wagging across the country was the alleged distribution of 32-inch television sets and boiled eggs by Baba Jamal’s campaign team to delegates on voting day. Many believed the distribution of the items influenced the delegates to vote for Baba Jamal and have called for investigations into the inducement and vote-buying allegations.

Baba Jamal Defends Actions

However, Baba Jamal has justified his actions and explained that the items he distributed to the voters on the day of the elections were gifts which he did not expect to influence the choices of delegates.

Speaking to journalists while voting was ongoing on Saturday, baba Jamal noted: “So, if you give television sets to people, what is wrong with it when you give things to people? Is this the first time I am giving things to people|?

“If somebody gives you a gift, you can take it. But allowing that gift to influence your vote is what is wrong. It is not the gift; it is allowing that gift to influence your vote that makes it wrong”, Baba Jamal added.

He further justified the gesture as part of basic hospitality, noting that it would be unreasonable to gather delegates for an important political exercise without providing some form of support.

“You think you can bring all these people together and not give them water?” he quizzed, stating, “It is not the item, it is the intention. I don’t think that I have gone wrong,” Baba Jamal said.

Baba Jamal explained further that his actions were consistent with his long-standing personal practice of supporting people financially and materially, stressing that generosity had always been part of his public life.

“Those of you who know me know that every Christmas, every occasion, every instance, I have put down GHS 2.5 million in free loans to give free loans to people. So, if today people are coming to vote and we are giving them something, what is wrong with that?”

OSP Opens Investigations

In view of the above, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has taken a keen interest in the matter and has launched investigations into the alleged vote-buying by Baba Jamal, who is a public officer.

In a notice dated February 8, 2026, the OSP said, “The investigations focus on allegations of vote buying, vote selling, and the sources of funding of the alleged corrupt acts”.

The statement also said, “During the NDC parliamentary primaries, one of the candidates, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, allegedly abetted some individuals to physically attack an officer of the OSP who was serving an investigative directive on him in relation to vote-buying and vote selling”.

As a result, the OSP has opened further investigation into the assault of an authorised officer of the OSP in performance of his functions in relation to Baba Jamal.

The OSP reminded the public that corrupt practices linked to elections remain criminal offences under Ghana’s laws, stating, “The law prohibits corrupt acts in relation to public elections. It is a serious offence to engage in vote buying, vote selling, intimidation, threats of violence, and acts of violence”.

NDC Launches Investigations

The NDC has also moved swiftly, condemning what it describes as widespread incidents of bribery and vote-buying during the Ayawaso East Constituency primary, announcing the immediate launch of investigations into the alleged misconduct.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Secretariat on Saturday, the NDC said its national executives had been alerted to reports of inducement and vote buying allegedly perpetrated by some aspirants participating in the internal election.

“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.

According to the party, a full-scale investigation has been instituted with immediate effect, and any candidate found culpable will face swift disciplinary action.

The NDC conducted the primary to elect a parliamentary candidate for the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election after five aspirants were successfully vetted and cleared to contest.

The contenders were Mohammed Ramme, the NDC Constituency Chairman; Amina Adam, widow of the late Member of Parliament; Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria; Yakubu Azindow; and Najib Mohammed.

Baba Jamal, who won the election on Saturday, will represent the NDC party in the by-election on March 3, 2026.

President Sacks Baba Jamal

As the storm raged, President John Dramani Mahama moved swiftly, ordering the immediate recall of Baba Jamal as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.

According to the Presidency, although several aspirants were accused of inducement, Baba Jamal stood out as the only serving public officer in the race, making his case different.

The recall, the Presidency said, was necessary to protect the integrity of public office and avoid any perception of impropriety. The directive takes immediate effect.

Meanwhile, 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 primary.

According to the Presidency, although several aspirants were accused of inducement, Baba Jamal stood out as the only serving public officer in the race, making his case different.

“The President noted that, while the allegations of vote-buying were made against multiple candidates who contested the primaries, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among them,” A statement released by the Presidency Communication Unit on Saturday, 7th February 2026, said.

It stressed that the recall is not intended to prejudice ongoing internal party processes but is guided by the standards of conduct expected of public officers and the need to protect the integrity of public office.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has been directed to initiate the necessary administrative and diplomatic steps to give effect to this directive with an immediate effect.