NDC Retains Mohammed Baba Jamal for Ayawaso East By-Election Amid Vote-Buying Scandal

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially confirmed that Mohammed Baba Jamal will remain its parliamentary candidate for the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, despite an internal investigative committee recommending the annulment of his primary victory. The decision follows a high-stakes probe into allegations of widespread vote-buying during the February 7, 2026, primaries. While the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC) received a report confirming significant electoral irregularities, leadership has cited the Electoral Commission’s (EC) February 11 nomination deadline as the primary reason for upholding the results.

The investigation, which involved questioning all candidates in the primary, highlighted major breaches of the party’s code of conduct. Findings presented by committee member Inusah Fuseini on February 10 indicated that Baba Jamal allegedly secured his victory through the distribution of cash and household items, including 32-inch television sets, to delegates. Despite these findings, the report was officially handed over to the FEC for a final verdict, where the practicalities of the upcoming by-election took precedence over the recommendation to void the results.

NDC General Secretary Fifi Kwetey defended the decision by pointing to "insurmountable" time constraints and potential legal liabilities. Kwetey emphasized that the party risked being left without a candidate for the by-election if a rerun was attempted so close to the EC’s filing deadline. Furthermore, the General Secretary noted that the investigation revealed inappropriate conduct among all candidates, suggesting that the issues identified were not limited to the winner alone. In response to these failings, the NDC has announced plans to expand its investigative mechanisms and pursue internal reforms to curb the influence of money in future party elections.

The decision has sparked significant debate within Ghana's political landscape. While some Members of Parliament called for a rerun to maintain the party's integrity, local constituency executives pushed for the results to stand. Civil society has also weighed in, with Peace Watch Ghana’s Executive Director, Nyonkopa Daniels, labeling the calls for annulment as "hypocritical." Daniels challenged lawmakers to pursue comprehensive, nationwide electoral reforms rather than targeting individual outcomes, arguing that the practice of vote-buying is a systemic issue that requires a broader solution.