Lariba Abudu and Oteng Mensah were sworn in as the new Gender Ministry leadership team.

The Gender, Children, and Social Protection Ministry’s (Gender Ministry) Minister and Deputy Minister, Lariba Zuweira Abudu and Francisca Oteng Mensah, have taken the oath of office.
After Parliament confirmed their appointment last week, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo swore them in at the Jubilee House on Wednesday (December 28, 2022).

Parliament confirms Abudu and Oteng Mensah for the Gender Ministry

The President urged them to put forth extra effort to support their selection, especially in light of the fact that many of their Parliamentary peers were passed over while making comparable claims of competence.

He stressed the importance of their work’s quality and integrity while also reminding them of their solemn commitment to providing competent and honest service to Ghanaians.

On July 28, 2022, President Akufo-Addo revoked Sarah Adwoa Safo’s appointment as the sector’s minister. This decision came as Parliament was debating Safo’s continued presence in the House following her absence from the chamber for more than 15 sitting days without the Speaker’s permission.

The President extended her leave of absence from her position in August 2021. The initial one was scheduled to conclude on August 31, 2021. Ms. Safo requested a leave of absence due to personal matters.

Scroll of office

President Akufo-Addo reminded them to declare their assets and file it promptly as well as to remain above reproach in their public dealings because their collective behavior as executive would determine the fate and fortunes of their party in the current and following decades. He then administered the oath of office and secrecy and gave the two the scroll of office.

“An opportunity to serve your country in an elevated capacity is being offered to you; take the opportunity with humility,” he said.

Legislature

The representative for Kwabre East is Ms. Lariba Zuweira Abudu, who also serves as the MP for Walewale.

They were reminded by President Akufo-Addo of their dual roles and responsibilities in the legislative and the executive, as well as the fact that their appointments to the executive branch did not absolve them of their obligations as legislators.

They were instructed by President Akufo-Addo to develop good balancing skills between their dual roles as government officials and members of parliament.

He urged the minister and his deputy to keep in mind the new procedures for conducting legislative business, as well as the scheduling of decision days that have been designed to make it easier for them to perform their executive duties.

He advised them that there was no justification for ignoring their everyday legislative duties.

Deputy Minister for Gender Ministry

With reference to Article 79(1) of the Constitution, which states that a deputy minister appointed by the president in consultation with the minister and with the prior approval of parliament is to assist the minister in the performance of his or her duties, President Akufo-Addo urged the deputy minister to demonstrate a spirit of loyalty to her minister.

He clarified that her primary duty was to support the minister in the discharge of her duties and that her success at work depended on her allegiance to the minister.

“I will not tolerate any actions that betray or undermine your minister. Because of this, I will view such actions as being disloyal to the state and party, as well as to me personally, he warned.

Any deputy minister who believed that the key to advancement lay in their ability to undermine and sabotage their colleagues would be gravely incorrect, according to President Akufo-Addo, as they would not benefit from that behavior and were instead likely to lose their position.

The greatest way to ensure both your success and the success of our group is for you to engage with your minister in all honesty and transparency, he continued.

Confidence

Speaking on their behalf, Ms. Abudu thanked the President for the honor and faith these appointments had shown in them and vowed to do her best to help the people of Ghana.

She promised that they will work together with government officials and sector players to implement the government’s vision and programs.

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