President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate recall of Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed from his position as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria following allegations of voter inducement during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency.
In a statement issued by the Presidency on Friday, February 7, the decision was linked to allegations of vote buying arising from the party’s internal elections, in which Baba Jamal contested as a candidate.
“The decision follows allegations of voter inducement in today’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency, in which Mr Baba Jamal, a candidate, participated,” the statement said.
The Presidency explained that although multiple aspirants were accused of vote-buying during the primary, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among the candidates at the time.
“In his directive to the Minister for Foreign Affairs recalling Mr Baba Jamal as High Commissioner, 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,” the statement added.
President Mahama also acknowledged the NDC’s decision to initiate its own internal investigations into the matter.
“The President has also noted the public statement by the General Secretary of the NDC indicating that the Party has commenced its own investigations into the allegations arising from the primaries,” the statement said.
The Presidency stressed that the recall was necessary to uphold the standards of conduct expected of public office holders and to avoid any perception of impropriety.
“Without prejudice to the ongoing internal party processes, and 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,” it stated.
The recall takes immediate effect, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs directed to take the required administrative and diplomatic steps to implement the directive.
