President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate recall of Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, popularly known as Baba Jamal, from his position as Ghana’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, following allegations of voter inducement during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency.
The directive, announced in a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of Government Communications and spokesperson to the President, noted that while the allegations were made against multiple candidates who contested the primaries, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among them.
The recall takes effect immediately, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs instructed to take the necessary administrative and diplomatic steps to implement the directive.
Why the recall is unlikely to strain Ghana–Nigeria relations
Despite the significance of recalling a sitting High Commissioner, the move is not expected to disrupt Ghana’s relationship with Nigeria, its largest trading partner in West Africa and one of its most important diplomatic allies.
The two countries maintain deep ties across trade, energy, migration, and regional security cooperation, often coordinating positions within ECOWAS and other multilateral forums.
Diplomatic recalls linked to domestic governance issues are generally treated as internal administrative actions rather than signals of bilateral tension.
Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Nigeria operates within an institutional framework that extends beyond any individual envoy.
An acting head of mission or successor is expected to ensure uninterrupted diplomatic and consular engagement, reinforcing the view that the episode is more a governance matter than a shift in foreign policy posture.
