Mohammed Baba Jamal Enters Ayawaso East By-election Race

Former Akwatia Member of Parliament Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed has officially entered the race for the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, signalling a dramatic attempt to return to the legislature under the flag of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The announcement comes just days after the Electoral Commission (EC) scheduled the by-election for Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The seat became vacant following the sudden passing of the veteran incumbent, Mahama Naser Toure, who died on January 4, 2026, after a brief illness. Baba Jamal, a legal practitioner and Ghana’s ambassador to Nigeria, who previously served as the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, is framing his candidacy as a homecoming, as he confirmed his plans on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen programme on Tuesday, January 20. Despite being famously associated with the Akwatia constituency in the Eastern Region, Baba Jamal was born and raised in Nima, the heart of the Ayawaso East district. “It is true. By God’s grace, I will contest in the East Ayawaso [by-election]. I want to come and serve my people in Nima. I have really worked in the constituency and invested more resources there than anyone else,” Baba Jamal stated. His assertion of having "invested more resources" than his competitors is seen as an opening salvo in what is expected to be a competitive internal vetting process within the NDC. The late MP, Naser Toure Mahama, was a titan in Ayawaso East, having served four terms and recently securing a resounding victory in the 2024 general elections with over 70% of the vote. His death at age 60 left a significant vacuum in the NDC’s "stronghold" within the capital. The EC has set the filing fee for the by-election at GH¢10,000, with nominations expected to open in early February. While the NDC is mourning its late member, the entry of a heavyweight like Baba Jamal—who served as the Deputy General Secretary of the party—adds a new layer of complexity to the race. As of Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the NDC regional executives have not yet officially sanctioned any specific candidate, maintaining that the party is currently focused on the final funeral rites of the late MP. However, Baba Jamal’s early declaration sets the stage for a high-stakes battle to determine who will succeed the "People’s MP" in Nima. Other names that have popped up within the NDC for the same seat are Najib Mohammed Sani and Dr. Yakubu M. Azindow. However, others are also pushing for the widow of the late MP, Hajia Amina Adam, to be considered as the party’s candidate for the contest.