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:
Regional Ministers