The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has decided to maintain Baba Jamal as its candidate for the Ayawaso East parliamentary election, stating that annulling the results of last Saturday’s primary was not an option.
The General Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, explained that after the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC) received the report of the three-member inquiry committee that investigated the vote-buying allegations, several factors informed the decision.
These included time constraints, potential legal challenges that could arise from annulling the results, and the absence of clear provisions in the party’s constitution to guide such situations.
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Mr. Kwetey further disclosed that all the candidates admitted to engaging in inappropriate conduct, according to the report, and assured that the party would ensure that the other candidates involved are duly sanctioned.
In the meantime, the party has decided to expand the three-member committee to seven members to enable a more thorough investigation into the allegations.
Earlier, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) invited Baba Jamal for interrogation. He was later released on self-recognition bail after several hours of questioning over vote-buying allegations linked to the party’s parliamentary primary.
His lawyer, Mr. Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, indicated that his client was also interrogated over an alleged assault on an OSP officer who was sent to deliver an invitation letter to him.
Counsel maintained that his client was unaware that items were being distributed in his name, adding: “If he was aware, and being a lawyer, he would have told the people the position of the law.”
Following allegations of vote-buying and inducement during the Ayawaso East parliamentary primary held last Saturday, the party constituted a three-member committee to probe the matter.
The committee, chaired by former Minister of Information, Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi, with former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, and legal practitioner, Ms. Emefa Fugah, as members, investigated the allegations and submitted its findings and recommendations, including proposed sanctions, to the FEC. The committee reports to the FEC, which is chaired by the party’s National Chairman, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
Its mandate also included making recommendations on sustainable measures and reforms to decisively end inducement and vote-buying in the party’s internal electoral processes.
This development followed President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to recall Baba Jamal from his post as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria over the allegations.
The General Secretary has since assured party members and the public that all candidates involved will face equal and fair sanctions.