NDC's Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed says his return to Parliament is the fulfilment of a promise his 93-year-old mother made years ago.

The Ayawaso East MP-elect secured victory in the by-election with 10,884 votes, defeating the NPP’s Yussif Ali Baba, who polled 4,009 votes. But for him, the numbers tell only part of the story.

“I want to thank the Almighty Allah for giving us this victory,” he said in an interview after he was declared the winner.

He was quick to shift the focus away from himself. “I want to state that this victory is not for me, Baba Jamal alone, it’s for the good people of Ayawaso East.”

He thanked constituents for their confidence. “I want to thank all of them for having confidence in me and electing me as their parliamentary candidate-elect.”

At the heart of the moment was his mother, Mimi. “Let me state that I dedicate this victory to my 93-year-old mother, Mimi, for promising to support me and ensuring that one day I will go back to Parliament.”

He described the outcome as the realisation of her vision. “Today, her vision and wish have come true. And I thank Allah for her life, and I dedicate this victory to her.”

He also acknowledged the personal toll the journey has taken on his immediate family.

He thanked his wife and children “for the spirit of endurance that they’ve gone through since I made this project my vision to go back to Parliament.”

He added, “I know they’ve gone through a lot, and I thank them for standing beside me and supporting me all this time.”

Beyond family, he extended gratitude to the NDC hierarchy.

“I want to also give special thanks to the national executives of NDC, the chairman and the General Secretary.”

He also thanked the Greater Accra regional executives, the constituency executives of Ayawaso East and “my people from Akwatia who came in their numbers to support me for this project.”

He singled out President John Mahama for praise. “Let me also give a special thanks to President John Mahama. Once again, for finding me worthy to go and work in Nigeria.”

According to him, “Those few months that I stayed in Nigeria have added to my experience, which I’m taking to Parliament to serve this country better.”

His message to constituents was emphatic. “I also want to assure the people of East Ayawaso that the resetting of Ayawaso Eaststarts now.”

He added, “We are going to Parliament. We are coming to reset the whole constituency and ensure that what East Ayawaso deserves comes to pass.”

He did not forget the media. “Thank you very much to the press for all these weeks that you have also been chasing.” He acknowledged the long hours journalists put in, sometimes late at night, and pledged cooperation going forward.

“I want to believe that I’m going to form a partnership with the press as we reset Ayawaso East, so we are going to work together,” he said, urging them to “please correct us when we are wrong, but please do that in a good and proper professional way.”