The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cleared Baba Jamal to contest the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, following the submission of a report by an internal investigative committee into alleged vote-buying during the party’s primaries.
The announcement was made by Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC, after the committee presented its findings to the party’s Functional Executive Committee. According to Kwetey, the committee’s investigation concluded that inappropriate conduct occurred among nearly all the candidates during the primaries.
“Let me just say that the long and short of the report was this, that inappropriate conduct was exhibited by almost all the candidates. Even though you cannot establish, because the candidates were clear that what they did was in light of motivating their delegates, we believe that that was inappropriate.”
The committee recommended that, ideally, the party should annul the primary election. However, several practical and legal constraints made that option difficult. The NDC now faces the task of balancing accountability for the misconduct with the operational requirements of contesting the by-election.
Lack of Constitutional Provision for Annulment
Fifi Kwetey explained that the NDC’s constitution does not provide a mechanism for annulment and emphasized the urgency of the matter, given that the party must present a candidate to the Electoral Commission by the following day.
“We are time-bound because we need to present a candidate by tomorrow to the Electoral Commission. So given these difficulties, there are legal challenges that could be mounted by whoever won, and the party clearly would not be able to go through any of that process without presenting a candidate very quickly.”
Given these constraints, the party accepted the recommendation to endorse Baba Jamal, who had been officially declared the winner by the Electoral Commission. Kwetey stressed that the decision, while influenced by practical necessity, reflects a careful weighing of legal considerations and procedural timelines.
“In light of that, the party effectively has taken the recommendation, which is that we, given the time and also the legal challenges, have no option but to present Baba Jamal, who actually won according to the Electoral Commission declaration.”
The vote-buying allegations that prompted the investigation had drawn significant attention within party circles and among the public. Although the conduct was deemed inappropriate, the committee recognized the practical difficulty in reversing the election result under the party’s current constitutional framework.
Developing Reforms to Prevent Vote-Buying
In a proactive move, the party has established a new, seven-member committee tasked with developing reforms to prevent similar issues in the future. The committee will focus on creating a more transparent framework for internal elections and implementing measures to address the problem of vote-buying in upcoming party contests.
Kwetey noted that the reforms aim to strengthen party governance and safeguard the integrity of the NDC’s candidate selection processes. Political analysts have observed that the Ayawaso by-election carries high stakes for the NDC, as the constituency has historically been a key area of support for the party.
Presenting a candidate quickly ensures that the party maintains its competitive position and meets the legal deadlines set by the Electoral Commission. The party’s decision reflects the tension between procedural compliance and ethical accountability, a balance that political parties in Ghana often have to navigate.
Baba Jamal’s clearance to contest comes amid intense scrutiny from both party members and the public, highlighting the broader challenge of ensuring credible internal elections in Ghanaian politics.
The new committee’s mandate to address vote-buying is expected to introduce policies that reinforce accountability, enhance transparency, and protect the integrity of future primaries.
The NDC has underscored that while the vote-buying allegations are a serious concern, the immediate priority is to field a candidate for the by-election in accordance with legal requirements.
By addressing both the procedural and ethical aspects of the controversy, the party aims to demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles and fair competition. As the Ayawaso by-election approaches, attention will focus on how Baba Jamal’s candidacy is received by party supporters and the electorate at large.
The establishment of the reform committee indicates the NDC’s recognition of the need for long-term institutional improvements, even as it navigates immediate political realities.
Party leaders have emphasized that these measures will help restore confidence in the party’s internal electoral processes and prevent similar controversies in the future.
The decision to clear Baba Jamal, coupled with the commitment to reform, signals the NDC’s approach to managing internal disputes and preserving electoral competitiveness.
The party’s actions highlight the ongoing tension between adherence to internal party regulations, ethical governance, and the practical demands of national elections.