Women have never held more than a small share of seats in Ghana's Parliament, but a number of women MPs have gone on to run some of the country's most important ministries, including foreign affairs, trade and local government.
These are the women MPs profiled on Agyedin who have held cabinet-level posts, with the ministries they led.
The ministers
Hanna Tetteh
Minister for Trade and Industry (2009 to 2013) and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2013 to 2017). The Awutu Senya MP ran two of the biggest ministries under Presidents Mills and Mahama and went on to senior United Nations posts, including head of the UN mission in Libya from 2025. Read full profile →
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey
Minister for Foreign Affairs (2017 to 2025). The Anyaa-Sowutuom MP served as Ghana's top diplomat for eight years before becoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. Read full profile →
Hajia Alima Mahama
Minister for Women and Children's Affairs (2005 to 2009) and Minister for Local Government (2017 to 2021). A lawyer who served in both the Kufuor and Akufo-Addo cabinets, and later became Ghana's first female ambassador to the United States. Read full profile →
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful
Minister for Communications (2017 to 2025). The Ablekuma West MP led the ministry through the rollout of the Ghana Card-SIM registration exercise and digital services. Read full profile →
Esther Obeng Dapaah
Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines under President Kufuor. A lawyer who trained in England, she represented Abirem for three terms and sat in the Pan-African Parliament. Read full profile →
Mavis Hawa Koomson
Minister for Special Development Initiatives (2017 to 2021) and Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (2021 to 2025). A former teacher who represented Awutu Senya East for three terms. Read full profile →
Catherine Ablema Afeku
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (2017 to 2019). The Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira MP laid the groundwork for the 2019 Year of Return before moving to the presidency. Read full profile →
Barbara Oteng-Gyasi
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (2019 to 2021). The Prestea-Huni Valley MP took over the tourism ministry during the Year of Return. Read full profile →
Elizabeth Afoley Quaye
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development. A career agricultural officer who represented Krowor from 2017 to 2021. Read full profile →
Cynthia Mamle Morrison
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (2018 to 2021). The Agona West MP and Montessori educator oversaw social protection programmes such as LEAP. Read full profile →
Lariba Abudu
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (2022 to 2024). The Walewale MP came to government from the Northern Development Authority. Read full profile →
A pattern worth noticing
Women ministers have most often been given gender, children and social protection, a portfolio held by three of the MPs above at different times, counting its earlier name, Women and Children's Affairs. The exceptions stand out: Hanna Tetteh and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey between them led Ghana's foreign ministry for every year from 2013 to 2025, and Hajia Alima Mahama ran local government, one of the largest ministries by budget.
