Less than an hour after being sworn into Parliament as the new Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso East Constituency, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed has become the subject of widespread public debate after a photograph circulating on social media appeared to show him dozing off in the chamber shortly after taking the oath of office.

The image, which quickly gained traction online on March 10, 2026, captured the newly sworn-in legislator seated in Parliament with his head lowered and eyes closed, prompting a flurry of reactions across social media platforms.

Critics interpreted the moment as symbolic of political complacency, especially given the intense controversy that surrounded his journey to Parliament.

A Controversial Road To Parliament

Baba Jamal’s entry into Parliament followed one of the most turbulent electoral contests in recent Ghanaian politics.

The Ayawaso East seat became vacant after the death of the constituency’s MP, Mahama Naser Toure, which triggered a highly contested by-election.

Before the by-election itself, the internal parliamentary primary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had already plunged the constituency into controversy. Baba Jamal won the party’s primary with 431 votes, narrowly defeating Hajia Amina Adam, the widow of the late MP, who secured 399 votes.

However, the primary was overshadowed by allegations of vote-buying and inducement, including claims that cash, television sets, motorbikes and food items were distributed to delegates.

The controversy led the party to establish a three-member investigative committee chaired by Kofi Totobi Quakyi to probe the allegations.

Although the committee acknowledged concerns about monetisation in internal elections, it ultimately cleared Baba Jamal to contest the by-election.

Investigations And Political Fallout

The controversy did not end there. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) later invited Baba Jamal for questioning as part of investigations into alleged vote-buying during the primary. His mobile phones were reportedly seized during the interrogation, though he was later released on self-recognisance bail.

At the same time, the presidency recalled him from his diplomatic post as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, citing the need to protect the integrity of public office amid the ongoing controversy.

Low Turn 

The by-election campaign itself was fiercely competitive, evolving into a three-way race between Baba Jamal of the NDC, Baba Ali Yussif, the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and independent candidate Umar Sanda, a long-serving local assemblyman from the NDC rank.

The campaign period was marked by intense grassroots mobilisation, high-level party involvement, and dramatic scenes in Nima, where leading figures from both major parties converged to canvass support. The by-election was ultimately marked by a low turnout.

Despite the turbulence, Baba Jamal emerged victorious, securing the seat for the NDC.

Social Media Reactions

The viral photograph from Parliament has now added a new chapter to the already dramatic political journey. Online reactions have ranged from ridicule to sympathetic explanations.

Some commentators mocked the image as an embarrassing start to his parliamentary career, suggesting that the moment symbolised a lack of seriousness immediately after assuming office.

Others, however, defended the MP, arguing that the intense weeks of campaigning, investigations, and political pressure may have left him exhausted.