The National Democratic Congress has constituted a three member investigative committee to examine allegations of widespread inducement and vote buying during the Ayawaso East parliamentary primary held Saturday, signalling the party’s determination to protect internal democratic integrity.
In a statement issued Sunday by General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the party announced that veteran politician Kofi Totobi Quakyi will chair the committee, with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and legal practitioner Emefa Fugah serving as members.
The panel has been mandated to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations and submit its findings by Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The decision follows Saturday’s primary, which was marred by reports that candidates distributed items including 32 inch television sets, motorbikes and boiled eggs to delegates during voting.
According to the statement, the committee’s work will extend beyond fact finding to include recommendations on sanctions where necessary and proposals for long term measures aimed at eliminating inducement and vote buying in the party’s internal electoral processes.
“In line with the Party’s commitment to internal democracy, transparency, and ethical political conduct, the Committee will investigate the allegations and make appropriate recommendations, including sanctions where necessary,” the statement said.
The NDC urged its members and supporters to remain calm while the committee carries out its work, adding that further updates would be communicated in due course.
The party had earlier on Saturday condemned what it described as widespread incidents of inducement and vote buying during the primary, describing the acts as an affront to party values and the reset agenda championed by the current administration.
Saturday’s primary was won by Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, who secured 431 votes against his closest rival, Hajia Amina Adam, who polled 399 votes.
The result defied pre election surveys by Global InfoAnalytics, which had projected Hajia Amina Adam would lead with 58 percent support among delegates while Baba Jamal would secure 32 percent.
Hours after the results were announced, President John Dramani Mahama ordered the immediate recall of Baba Jamal from his diplomatic post, citing the vote buying allegations.
In a statement issued by Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidency said the decision was taken to preserve the integrity of public office, noting that although allegations were made against several contenders, Baba Jamal was the only serving public official among them.
The Ayawaso East primary has drawn national attention, with pollster Mussa Dankwah suggesting that alleged inducements may have altered the outcome.
“It took bribes to defeat science and data,” Dankwah stated in a social media post, referencing reports of alleged vote buying at polling centres.
Former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, has called for structural reforms to prevent vote buying, arguing that selective outrage following such claims is inadequate.
“How many of our elected MPs, and elected party executives can honestly raise their hands and swear they’ve never induced a single delegate with money, gifts, or promises?” he asked, pointing to what he described as the party’s expanded electoral college model used in 2015 as a more sustainable alternative.
The primary was held to select a candidate for a by election following the death of sitting Member of Parliament Naser Toure.
Over 1,100 delegates participated in voting at the Nima Cluster of Schools in Accra.
Greater Accra Regional Chairman Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore acknowledged the difficulty of monitoring vote buying during internal party elections, citing modern financial systems such as mobile money and bank transfers as making it harder to track illegal inducements.
Regional Minister Linda Ocloo denied allegations that she supported one of the candidates, stating categorically that she had not campaigned for or endorsed any aspirant.
Kofi Totobi Quakyi, who chairs the investigative committee, previously served as Minister of Information in the Jerry John Rawlings administration and is a veteran politician with extensive experience in party affairs.
Mahama Ayariga serves as Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and holds the position of Majority Leader in Ghana’s Ninth Parliament.
Emefa Fugah is a private legal practitioner with expertise in constitutional and administrative law.
The committee’s mandate includes proposing a blueprint for dealing with such issues and preventing them in future internal elections.
The NDC warned in its earlier statement on Saturday that more drastic sanctions could be applied in future, including possible cancellation of elections, if similar incidents are reported.
The party described the investigation as part of its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity in its internal electoral processes.
With the probe committee’s findings expected by Tuesday, the NDC faces critical decisions on how to address the allegations while maintaining party unity ahead of the March 3 by election.
