Cost of poll malpractice
What is the price to pay for suspected involvement in electoral malpractice? Ask erstwhile High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, and he would advise it could
What is the price to pay for suspected involvement in electoral malpractice? Ask erstwhile High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, and he would advise it could be the ultimate career ruiner. After all, in sane societies, those who live in glass houses don’t make a pastime of throwing stones.
Ahmed was summarily recalled recently from his ambassadorial posting over alleged links to electoral malpractice in Ghana’s parliamentary election primary for Ayawaso East constituency held last Saturday. The recall was ordered by President John Dramani Mahama and announced in a presidential statement issued same day. According to the statement, the directive took immediate effect.
The recall was connected with allegations of voter inducement and vote-buying during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary in Ayawaso East. Ahmed, while serving as Ghana’s envoy to Nigeria, was also a contestant in the primary election. “The Ayawaso East primary was organised to select NDC’s candidate for a parliamentary by-election following the death of the sitting member of parliament,” the statement indicated, adding that Ahmed emerged winner of the contest, securing the highest number of votes among the aspirants.
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Reports from the primary said items such as television sets and foodstuff were shared to delegates – a trend that opponents and observers described as voter inducement and vote buying. Ahmed, for his part, argued that the items were gestures of goodwill and not intended to influence voting.
In explaining the recall, the Ghanaian presidency said it was necessary to uphold ethical standards expected of public officials, and to avoid any perception of impropriety. The government also cited concerns over possible breach of Ghana’s code of conduct for political appointees that governs the political activities of serving officials. It stressed that Ahmed’s continued stay in office was not tenable under the circumstance, even though allegations of vote-buying were levelled against multiple aspirants who participated in the primary election.
The statement said the president directed Ghana’s foreign affairs ministry to recall the envoy following an announcement by NDC that it had commenced a probe of allegations arising from the poll. “Without prejudice to 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, adding: “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.”
Ghana shows the way in how to uphold high ethical standards among public officials, especially as it should dissuade electoral impunity. Multiple aspirants were accused of vote-buying, but the envoy wasn’t permitted to be one of the crowd. And the speed of presidential sanction! There is much to learn from Ghana’s example.
