President John Dramani Mahama has announced 42 ministerial and regional appointments since assuming office in January 2025, marking significant steps in assembling his administration.
While the list showcases a diverse range of professionals and members of Parliament (MPs), one notable statistic stands out: only seven of these appointees are women, highlighting a persistent gender imbalance in Ghana’s political leadership.
The appointees are spread across various sectors, with portfolios ranging from Finance and Energy to Trade, Education, and Health.
The first batch of nominees, announced on January 9, 2025, included heavyweights such as Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson for Finance and John Abdulai Jinapor for Energy and Green Transition.
However, no women were included in this initial list, raising early concerns about gender representation.
A week later, on January 16, 2025, President Mahama introduced his second batch of nominees. This announcement brought a notable shift, with three women—Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (Gender, Children, and Social Protection), Abla Dzifa Gomashie (Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts), and Emelia Arthur (Fisheries and Aquaculture)—being named to significant roles. Despite this progress, women still accounted for only a fraction of the total appointees.
The third batch, revealed on January 21, 2025, added another 16 names to the list, including key figures like Dr. Edward Omane Boamah (Defence) and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (Foreign Affairs).
However, the absence of new female nominees in this batch further underscored the gender disparity in the appointments.
Among the 16 regional ministers-designate, just two women—Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey (Eastern Region) and Linda Ocloo (Greater Accra Region)—were named, bringing the total number of women appointees across all announcements to seven.
This modest representation calls for deeper conversations about gender inclusivity and equity in governance, even as the administration continues to prioritize competence and experience.
We hope President Mahama considers nominating or appointing more women in his next batch of nominees.
Below is the full list of 42 ministers nominated by President Mahama, so far:
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson (MP) – Finance
John Abdulai Jinapor (MP) – Energy and Green Transition
Dominic Akuritinga Ayine (MP) – Attorney-General and Minister of Justice
Kwame Governs Agbodza (MP) – Roads and Highways
Eric Opoku (MP) – Food and Agriculture
Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (MP) – Gender, Children and Social Protection
Abla Dzifa Gomashie (MP) – Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts
Emelia Arthur (MP) – Fisheries and Aquaculture
George Opare-Addo – Youth and Empowerment
Haruna Iddrisu (MP) – Education
Ahmed Ibrahim (MP) – Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs
Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare (MP) – Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Defence
Samuel Nartey George (MP) – Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP) – Lands and Natural Resources
Kofi Iddie Adams (MP) – Sports and Recreation
Abdul-Rashid H. Pelpuo (MP) – Labour, Jobs and Employment
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (MP) – Health
Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (MP) – Environment, Science and Technology
Joseph Bukari Nikpe (MP) – Transport
Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak (MP) – Interior
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) – Foreign Affairs
Adjei Kenneth Gilbert – Works, Housing, and Water Resources
Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum (MP) – Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives
Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP) – Government Communications
Issifu Seidu (MP) – Minister of State, Climate Change, and Sustainability
Regional Ministers
Puozuing Charles Lwanga – Upper West
Joseph Addae Akwaboa – Bono
Francis Owusu Antwi – Bono East
Wilbert Petty Brentum – Western North
Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere – Central
Joseph Nelson – Western
Ali Adolf John – Northern
John Kwadwo Gyapong – Oti
James Gunu – Volta
Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey – Eastern
Ibrahim Tia – North East
Dr. Frank Amoakohene – Ashanti
Akamugri Donatus Atanga – Upper East
Charity Gardiner – Ahafo
Salisu Be-Awuribe – Savannah
Linda Ocloo (MP) – Greater Accra
When it comes to gender representation, do you people just want women to be there to fill spaces to show a nicer proportioning or you want people who qualify and can do the work? Let us be serious! This is the time to build and so let us not westernise ourselves and forget the goal ahead. Every chosen person was the best qualified. If there were more qualified women, I believe they would have been chosen.
ReplyDelete