The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has launched wide-ranging investigations into alleged electoral misconduct during the recent internal elections of Ghana’s two main political parties, placing the spotlight on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in Ayawaso East and the political fate of Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed.
In a statement, the OSP confirmed that it began investigations into the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primaries held on January 31, 2026, citing concerns over the conduct of the exercise. The office said the probe forms part of its mandate to combat corruption and corruption-related offences in Ghana’s electoral processes.
Subsequently, on February 7, 2026, the OSP commenced a real-time investigation into the NDC parliamentary primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency in the Greater Accra Region. The investigations are centered on allegations of vote buying, vote selling, and the sources of funding for the alleged inducements.
The OSP further alleged that during the Ayawaso East primaries, one of the aspirants, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, facilitated the use of thugs to physically attack an OSP officer who was serving an investigative directive related to alleged vote buying and vote selling. The incident, according to the OSP, occurred while the officer was performing official duties.
Amid the controversy, the Majority Caucus of the NDC in Parliament called for the immediate annulment of the Ayawaso East parliamentary primaries, citing what it described as “widely circulated allegations of vote buying” during the February 7 contest.
In a strongly worded statement, the caucus condemned the reported developments, saying they run contrary to the party’s stated objective to “reset the politics of this country.” Following deliberations, the caucus directed the party’s Functional Executive Committees to immediately cancel the Ayawaso East primary and bar any candidate found culpable of unethical conduct from participating in any rerun.
“The NDC Majority Caucus remains committed to restoring integrity to our politics,” the statement emphasized.
The fallout from the primaries intensified when President John Dramani Mahama directed the immediate recall of Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed from his position as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.
In a statement issued by the President’s Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidency said the decision was taken in response to allegations of voter inducement linked to the Ayawaso East primaries, in which Baba Jamal was a candidate.
While acknowledging that allegations had been made against multiple contestants, the statement noted that Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among them, necessitating swift action to uphold standards of public office.
“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,” the statement said.
The President also referenced a public statement by the NDC General Secretary indicating that the party has initiated its own internal investigations into the matter, even as the OSP’s probe continues.
Together, the unfolding investigations, party actions, and presidential directive underscore growing institutional efforts to confront alleged vote buying and restore public confidence in Ghana’s internal party democratic processes.
