The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has eulogized Baba Sadiq after being appointed as Ghana’s High Commissioner-designate to Nigeria by President John Dramani Mahama.

Honourable Ablakwa made shared information about Baba Sadiq's appointment on March 1, 2026.

Taking to social media, he wrote, “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 aloft Ghana’s flag and make the youth of our continent proud."

As High Commissioner-designate, Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu is anticipated to lead efforts aimed at strengthening trade relations, promoting cultural ties and deepening diplomatic collaboration between Ghana and Nigeria.

He will formally assume office once the Nigerian government grants approval and all required diplomatic protocols are concluded.

His nomination comes after the recall of the immediate past High Commissioner, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, widely known as Baba Jamal.

He was withdrawn from the post on February 7, 2026, following claims of voter inducement linked to his involvement and win in the parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress in the Ayawaso East Constituency.

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.

Last year, fifteen individuals took up roles as ambassadors, high commissioners, and consul-generals following their nomination by President John Dramani Mahama.

This was announced by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, in a letter dated June 10, 2025.

Among the nominees are Benjamin A. Quashie for the Republic of South Africa, Kojo Bonsu for the People’s Republic of China, Kalsoume Sinare Baffoe for the Kingdom of Spain, Hammed Rashid Tunde Ali for the United Arab Emirates, Hon. Captain George Kofi Nfojoh for the Togolese Republic, and Grace El Mahmoud Marabe for the United Arab Emirates–Dubai.

The others are Prof. Ohene Adjei for the Federal Republic of Germany, Abdul Nasiru-Deen for the Republic of Turkey, Theresah Adjei-Mensah for the Czech Republic, Prof. Kwasi Obiri-Danso for India, Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, Ph.D., for Canada, Dr. Margaret Miewien Chebere for Denmark, Labik Joseph Yaani for Equatorial Guinea, Nii Amasah Namoale for the Federative Republic of Brazil, and Dr. Felix Kumah Godwin Anebo for the Republic of Senegal.

The letter instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate all required procedures to ensure the nominees' appointments are successfully processed.