Dr Tony Aidoo, former Ghanaian Ambassador to the Netherlands, has urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to cancel the Ayawaso East Constituency parliamentary primary held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, over widespread allegations of vote-buying and inducement.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Dr Aidoo said the controversy sparked by reports of television sets, boiled eggs and other items being distributed to delegates reflects a deeper erosion of internal party democracy that must be addressed decisively.
“I support a cancellation of the elections. And those involved barred from contesting the elections again. Not only one election. Barred from holding public office,” he said. “And about those who took the money, if you can catch them, chuck them out of the party.”
His comments come as the NDC faces intense scrutiny over the conduct of the primary that produced Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election — a contest triggered after the death of the late MP Mahama Naser Toure.
Allegations of vote-buying have dominated the national conversation, with civil society groups, Election Watch Ghana and Transparency International Ghana condemning the reported distribution of 32-inch televisions and other items to delegates as a threat to democratic integrity.
The controversy has also drawn calls from the NDC Majority Caucus in Parliament for the annulment of the primary results and for sanctions against any aspirants found culpable.
Dr Aidoo criticised the notion of simply “nipping” vote-buying in the bud, arguing the practice has “taken root” and must be uprooted completely — a metaphor he said highlights how entrenched inducement has become in political contests. “The thing has already taken root. It’s how it has flowered,” he said.
Baba Jamal has denied the allegations, telling the media he only heard about the distribution of televisions after the election and insisting his victory was genuine. He has cooperated with an NDC-appointed three-member committee tasked with probing the claims and is expected to appear before it as part of the investigation.
The NDC committee, led by veteran politician Kofi Totobi Quakyi, is expected to submit its report on February 10, 2026, to guide the party’s next steps.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has also announced investigations into the alleged vote-buying, alongside similar claims from other party primaries, stressing the probes are grounded in law and evidence.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
