Exactly, 22 days since President Mahama recalled the immediate past Ghana High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Baba Jamal, his successor has been announced.

In a formal document dated March 1 and shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it announced Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu as Ghana’s High Commissioner-designate to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

His appointment is subject to the completion of diplomatic processes, including agreement from the Nigerian government, before he officially assumes office in Abuja.

Confirming the new appointment, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, congratulated Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu and expressed confidence in his ability to represent Ghana effectively on the international stage.

As High Commissioner-designate, Baba Sadiq will represent Ghana’s interests in Nigeria, promote bilateral cooperation, and strengthen economic, cultural, and political ties between the two countries.

He noted that the appointment highlights the government’s confidence in Baba Sadiq’s leadership and commitment to national service.

“Congratulations, Baba Sadiq, on your well-deserved appointment by President Mahama as High Commissioner-designate to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have no doubt you will hold Ghana’s flag aloft and make the youth of our continent proud,” he stated.

Baba Jamal, Ayawaso-East by-election and vote-buying allegations

The Presidency announced a recall of Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal, over voter inducement during the just-ended Ayawaso East primaries held on Saturday, February 7.

In a statement titled “President recalls Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria,” shared by the Spokesperson to the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, and dated February 7, it noted that:

“President John Dramani Mahama directed the immediate recall of Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed (Baba Jamal) from his position as Ghana’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The decision followed allegations of voter inducement during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency, in which Mr Baba Jamal, a candidate, participated.”

The President stressed that reports of vote-buying were made against several candidates seeking to win the Ayawaso seats, but Baba Jamal stood out because he was the only person who was a serving public officer at the time, making his case a peculiar one.

“In his directive to the Minister for Foreign Affairs recalling Mr Baba Jamal as High Commissioner, the President noted that while allegations of vote-buying were made against multiple candidates who contested the primaries, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among them.”

Consequently, to protect the integrity of public office and to avoid any public suspicion of misconduct or violation of the Government’s Code of Conduct for Political Appointees, the President stated:

“Without prejudice to the ongoing internal party processes, and strictly in view of the standards of conduct expected of public officers, the President considered 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.”

The statement further indicated that “the recall took effect immediately, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs was directed to take the necessary administrative and diplomatic steps to give effect to this directive.”

Meanwhile, Baba Jamal won the party’s internal primary held ahead of the by-election scheduled for March 3.

After the close of polls, provisional results showed that Baba Jamal secured 431 of the total votes cast, followed by the widow, Hajia Amina Adam, of the late Ayawaso MP, Naser Toure, who obtained 399 votes. Mr Mohammed Ramne, the Ayawaso East NDC Constituency Chairman, placed third with 88 votes.

Dr Yakubu Azindow obtained 45 votes, while Mr Najib Mohammed Sani recorded one vote.

Ahead of the elections, a survey conducted by the research and data analytics company Global InfoAnalytics predicted that 58% of members of the ruling NDC supported the widow of the late Mahama Naser Toure, former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso East Constituency.