Ghana's President Mahama Recalls Country's High Commissioner To Nigeria Over Alleged Vote Buying

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has reportedly recalled the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, over alleged "vote buying," in the country.

This is coming against the backdrop of allegations involving “vote-buying” and electoral interference.

According to sources, Mahama’s decision was in response to claims that delegates were induced during the National Democratic Congress, NDC, primaries which Ahmed won after allegedly inducing voters with 32- inch televisions and boiled eggs.

It was gathered that during the election, Ahmed’s campaign team allegedly offered 32-inch televisions and boiled eggs to delegates who took part in the primaries.

Ahmed reportedly confirmed that television sets were distributed but rejected claims that the act amounted to vote buying.

The local Joy Online newspaper quoted Ahmed as saying, “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?”

Explaining the reason behind Jamal’s recall, Mahama's Spokesman, Felix Ofosu, said that while the allegations of vote buying were made against multiple candidates who contested the primaries, Jamal was the only serving public officer among them.

“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,” Ofusu added, pointing out that Ahmed's "recall takes effect immediately," even as directives had been issued to the minister for foreign affairs to take the necessary administrative steps.

“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 further noted.