Dakoa Newman

Dakoa Newman is a Ghanaian politician of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). She was Member of Parliament for the Okaikwei South Constituency in Accra from January 2021 to January 2025, and in 2024 she served as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection. She is the daughter of Victor Newman, a founding member of the NPP.

Early life and education

She was born on 6 June 1985 and traces her roots to Akropong and Osu. She attended Wesley Girls' Senior High School in Cape Coast, then earned a bachelor's degree in political science at the University of Ghana, Legon, and a master's degree in programme and project management at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. She is certified by the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional and a Risk Management Professional.

Parliament

In the NPP primaries of June 2020 she defeated the sitting MP, Ahmed Arthur, winning 440 delegate votes to his 327. In the December 2020 general election she took Okaikwei South with 40,393 votes, or 60.82 per cent, against Abraham Kotei Neequaye of the National Democratic Congress.

She stood again in December 2024 but lost to the NDC's Ernest Adomako, who polled 32,691 votes to her 24,263.

Gender Minister

President Nana Akufo-Addo named her Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection in his 2024 reshuffle, and Parliament approved her in May 2024. She replaced Lariba Zuweira Abudu. During her time at the ministry the President signed the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, which sets targets for women's representation in public office. Her term ended with the change of government in January 2025.

Personal life

She is a Christian, and is married with a child.