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Baba Jamal sworn in as MP for Ayawaso Ekast, pledges service with dignity and integrity

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Baba Jamal has officially been sworn in as the Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso East Constituency by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

The swearing in ceremony took place in Parliament on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, with members of the House welcoming him as he took the oath of office and oath of allegiance to officially assume his role as a legislator.

His swearing in was met with loud cheers from sections of his constituents and loyal supporters who gathered in Parliament to witness the ceremony.

Speaking to the media after the swearing in ceremony, Baba Jamal expressed gratitude to Allah for guiding him through what he described as a very difficult political journey.

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He explained that the path to Parliament had been challenging but he was grateful to everyone who stood by him during the process, including the Speaker of Parliament and members on both sides of the House who welcomed him warmly.

The new MP thanked the leadership of the National Democratic Congress, particularly the National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, for supporting him and taking time to attend the ceremony.

Baba Jamal further expressed appreciation to traditional leaders and chiefs from Ayawaso East who came to witness the occasion, stating that he would work closely with them to deliver improved services and development to the people in the constituency.

He acknowledged the support of the media, his legal advisors and well wishers who assisted him throughout the journey, noting that their encouragement played an important role in his success.

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The MP expressed special gratitude to his wife and family for standing by him during what he described as a very difficult and stressful period, adding that he hoped such difficult moments would not repeat themselves as he now focuses on serving his constituents.

When asked what the public should expect from him in Parliament, Baba Jamal indicated that his service would be guided by dignity and integrity.

He explained that he was determined to prove critics wrong about issues that had been raised about him, stressing that he had done nothing wrong and had been cleared by a committee that looked into the matter.

According to him, his victory in the by election showed the confidence and trust the people of Ayawaso East had in him, a mandate he said would encourage him to continue serving the constituency and the country with dedication.

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Many of them expressed excitement over his return to Parliament and his new mandate to represent the people of Ayawaso East.

With his induction into the House, Baba Jamal adds to the numbers of the National Democratic Congress in Parliament, increasing the party’s representation to 183 MPs and strengthening the majority side in the House.

Baba Jamal secured victory during the Ayawaso East by election held on March 3, 2026, after polling 10,884 votes to win the parliamentary seat convincingly.

His closest contender, Baba Ali Yusif of the New Patriotic Party, obtained 4,009 votes.

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Independent candidate Mohammed Umar Sanda garnered 1,885 votes, while Ibrahim Iddrisu of the Liberal Party of Ghana secured 43 votes and David Kanor, also an independent candidate, polled 104 votes.

In total, 17,048 ballots were cast in the election, out of which 16,928 were valid votes and 120 were rejected ballots. The constituency has close to 50,000 registered voters.

The by election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of the sitting Member of Parliament for the area, Mahama Naser Toure, who passed away in January 2026 while receiving treatment at the hospital.

His death left the Ayawaso East parliamentary seat vacant, prompting the Electoral Commission of Ghana to organise the by election for a new representative to complete the remainder of the parliamentary term.

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Before contesting the seat, Baba Jamal served as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.

He previously held other political positions, including serving as the Member of Parliament for Akwatia and also worked in diplomatic service representing Ghana abroad.

His victory in the by election marks his return to Parliament and places him in charge of continuing the legislative and development work for the people of Ayawaso East.

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Interior Ministry condemns assault of suspect in custody, orders Police investigation

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The Ministry of the Interior has condemned the assault of an arrested person while in police custody and has directed the Inspector-General of Police to launch a full investigation into the incident.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry said it noted with concern that the assault followed public statements linked to a religious dispute, including calls for violence against persons considered to have offended religious sensibilities.

“The Ministry unequivocally condemns all such statements, as there is no justification for inciting violence against Christians, Muslims, or any other person on the basis of religion,” the statement said.

The Ministry stressed that regardless of the allegation against a suspect, no one has the right to assault a person in police custody.

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“An arrested person is in custody of the State and is entitled to the protection of the law,” the statement noted.

It also expressed serious concern over how civilians gained access to the person in custody.

The Minister, Muntaka Mubarak has directed the IGP to take three immediate actions

They are to identify how civilians accessed the arrested person and determine if any police personnel facilitated, permitted or acquiesced, adding that officers found culpable will face disciplinary action.

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Additionally take immediate steps to identify, arrest and investigate the civilian persons who carried out the assault, in accordance with the law.

And finally investigate the conduct of all supervising officers responsible for custody and supervision, and apply disciplinary sanctions where necessary.

The Minister further directed the Police to deal with all persons arrested in connection with the preceding incidents “strictly in accordance with the law and without fear or favour.”

The Ministry reiterated that religious incitement, religious violence and the unlawful assault of persons in custody have no place in Ghana.

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“No religious belief, personal grievance or other consideration places anyone above the law,” the statement emphasized.

It reaffirmed government’s commitment to maintaining public order, protecting the rights of persons in custody and promoting peaceful coexistence among citizens of all faiths and backgrounds.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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Ghana fully funded evacuation of nationals from South Africa- Foreign Affairs Ministry

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The Government of Ghana has stated that it fully funded the evacuation of more than 1,600 Ghanaians from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, said Ghana did not seek financial or material support from the South African Government to bring the affected Ghanaians back home.

The Ministry was responding to media reports that South Africa was seeking about $18 million in reimbursement from some African countries for costs incurred in supporting and evacuating their nationals.

It explained that all costs related to the evacuation of Ghanaians were covered by the Government of Ghana and Ghanaian partners.

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According to the Ministry, more than 1,600 Ghanaians have been evacuated from South Africa since May 2026, with the exercise still ongoing.

It said the evacuees are also provided with reintegration funds, transport fares and other relief items after arriving in Ghana to help them settle back into the country.

The Ministry assured Ghanaians that the country would not be included among those being asked by South Africa to reimburse the cost of repatriating foreign nationals.

It reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of Ghanaians living abroad.

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The Ministry said the government would continue to take timely action whenever the safety and security of Ghanaians outside the country were at risk.

It expressed gratitude to President John Mahama and Ghanaian partners for supporting the fully Ghanaian-funded evacuation exercise.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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