Ghana recalls High Commissioner to Nigeria over alleged electoral malpractice

President John Mahama of Ghana has recalled the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Ahmed, over alleged links to electoral malpractices in Ghana’s parliamentary election primaries for Ayawaso East Constituency.

A statement issued by the Ghanaian Presidency in Accra said Ahmed, who was an aspirant in the primaries, was recalled due to his alleged role in election malpractice as a serving public officer.

The statement said the recall takes effect immediately and that the decision is intended to avoid any perception of impropriety or conflict with the government’s Code of Conduct for Political Appointees.

It stressed that Ahmed’s continued stay in office was no longer tenable under the circumstances, although allegations of vote buying were levelled against multiple aspirants who participated in the primaries.

The decision follows allegations of voter inducement during the National Democratic Congress parliamentary primaries held on Saturday in the constituency.

The statement said Mahama directed the Minister for Foreign Affairs to recall the High Commissioner following an announcement by the NDC’s General Secretary that the party had already commenced an investigation into the incident.

“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 recall takes effect immediately, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been directed to take the necessary administrative and diplomatic steps to give effect to this directive,” it added.

SOURCE: MRA