Once upon a time, Hon. Baba Jamal was serving over 30 million Ghanaians comfortably stationed in Nigeria as Ghana’s High Commissioner, shaking hands, cutting diplomatic ribbons, and representing the nation on an international stage. A higher calling, some might say.
Then, suddenly, enlightenment struck. Not in Abuja. Not in Accra. But somewhere between Nima traffic and nomination forms.
Now, Baba Jamal tells us his true, burning motivation is to serve Ayawaso East, a constituency he already tried for, lost, and is now re-entering through the narrow door opened by the unfortunate death of an MP. According to him, this is not ambition. Oh no. This is humanism.
One can’t help but marvel at this divine downsizing of service.
Because really, how does one wake up and say:
“Serving Ghana in Nigeria? Too broad. Too global. Too… much. Let me focus on a constituency that hasn’t even agreed it wants me yet.”
If this is what sacrifice looks like, then the rest of us clearly don’t understand politics.
The explanation, we’re told, is that Ayawaso East needs “credible leadership.” Fair enough. But here’s the awkward question no one is asking loudly enough:
Was the High Commissioner role too heavy? Too demanding? Too… huge?
Because normally, politicians fight tooth and nail to upgrade from constituency to cabinet, from cabinet to diplomacy, from diplomacy to something even bigger. Baba Jamal appears to be pioneering a new political theory: reverse ambition.
And let’s be honest, this isn’t even a guaranteed seat. This is a by-election. Against other aspirants. With history not exactly on his side. So one must ask:
If he loses again, does Ghana get its High Commissioner back?
Or was that chapter quietly closed the moment nomination forms were picked?
I doubt very much he’s packing his bags for Abuja if Ayawaso East says “no” again. Politics doesn’t usually work like that.
Which is why some Ghanaians are reasonably confused and mildly amused. If your heart is no longer in Nigeria, then perhaps the honourable thing is simple: resign properly and allow President Mahama to appoint someone ready to actually stay and do the job.
Public service, after all, is not a part-time hobby or a political waiting room.
But then again, politicians have a special talent for surprising us. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, someone leaves a continental stage to audition again for a local role, and calls it destiny.
If you don’t like someone, you don’t like someone.
And some political moves? They don’t inspire confidence they inspire memes.
Ghana politics never fails to entertain.
Source: Evans Mawunyo Tsikata
