Meet the longest-serving female MPs in Ghana's 8th Parliament

In the ever-evolving landscape of Ghanaian politics, a few remarkable women have stood the test of time, representing their constituencies with distinction and dedication.

Among these trailblazers are Laadi Ayii Ayamba, Sarah Adwoa Safo, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Della Sowah, and Freda Akosua Prempeh.

These women have not only maintained their parliamentary seats through multiple terms but have also significantly contributed to various legislative and developmental initiatives.

Here’s a closer look at these influential leaders.

Patricia Appiagyei

Patricia Appiagyei is the longest-serving female Member of Parliament in the 8th Parliament.She served in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Parliament after she joined parliament in 2009 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.

Patricia Appiagyei was born on Wednesday, 28 November 1956 in Kumasi. She is a Ghanaian female politician, a one-time Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister and the first female Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

She had her secondary education at St. Louis Senior High School in Kumasi and proceeded to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she studied Economics. She is married to Dr K. K. Sarpong, a former CEO of Kotoko FC and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, and has three children.

Patricia Appiagyei was a Deputy Minister for the Ashanti Region from 2001 to 2005. From 2005 to 2009, she served as the Municipal Chief Executive for Kumasi.

Patricia Appiagyei is currently the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Asokwa Constituency after beating former Local Government minister, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, to win the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primary election and subsequently won the parliamentary seat during the 2016 Ghanaian general elections.

She is currently the Deputy Majority Leader.

Laadi Ayii Ayamba

Laadi Ayii Ayamba, the MP for Pusiga Constituency in the Upper East Region, is one of Ghana's longest-serving members of parliament in the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic. Representing the National Democratic Congress, she has been a steadfast advocate for women’s rights, supporting the Affirmative Action Bill to ensure a 40% quota for women in political participation. After joining parliament on January 7, 2013, Ayamba has continued to serve her community with passion, retaining her seat in the 2020 elections by a narrow margin of 63 votes.

Sarah Adwoa Safo

Lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo, representing the Dome/Kwabenya Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has also made her mark as a resilient parliamentarian.

A member of the New Patriotic Party, she has held her seat since 2013, winning the 2012 elections with a significant majority. Despite her notable tenure, Safo will not represent her constituents after losing in the 2024 NPP parliamentary primaries.

Adwoa Safo's contributions to her constituency and legal expertise have left an indelible impact.

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the MP for Ablekuma West Constituency, is another distinguished figure in the 8th Parliament. Born on October 20, 1964, Owusu-Ekuful is a lawyer and women's rights activist who has served since January 7, 2013. Currently, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, she continues to champion digital transformation and gender equality, securing her position as a key player in Ghana's political arena.

Helen Adjoa Ntoso

Helen Adjoa Ntoso (born February 1958) is a Ghanaian politician and a member of the Parliament of Ghana for the Krachi West Constituency in the Volta Region of Ghana. She is a member of the National Democratic Congress. She joined parliament on January 7, 2013.

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Della Adjoa Sowah

Della Adjoa Sowah (born November 23, 1959) is a member of the National Democratic Congress and a member of parliament for Kpando in the 6th, 7th, and 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. A former Deputy Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Sowah earned her degree in Social Sciences from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 1981. She also holds a Diploma in Finance and a Master of Business Administration.

Freda Akosua Oheneafrewo Prempeh

Freda Akosua Oheneafrewo Prempeh (born on January 23, 1966) is a Ghanaian politician and Member of Parliament in the 7th and 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, representing the Tano North Constituency in the Ahafo Region.

She has served as the Minister of State for the Ministry of Works and Housing. A member of the New Patriotic Party, Prempeh's political career began in 2002 as an Assembly member for the Lakoo Electoral Area of the La-Dadekotopo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, where she served for eight years.

She was also a Public Affairs Officer for the National Reconciliation Commission in 2006. Currently, she is a member of Parliament for the Tano North Constituency and serves on the Mines and Energy, and Government Assurance Committees.

She was appointed Deputy Minister of Works and Housing in 2017 by President Akufo-Addo and served as Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources until February 14, 2024.

She contested the 2020 Ghanaian general election as the parliamentary candidate for the Tano North seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party. She won by more than 51%, securing her third term as an MP. However, in the 2024 NPP parliamentary primaries, she was defeated by Dr. Gideon Boako, Spokesperson for the Vice President and NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Boako secured 444 votes, surpassing Prempeh's 221 votes out of the total valid votes cast.

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Feature by: Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese