I worked from the reception for over a year – Rachel Appoh recounts ‘ordeal’ at Gender Ministry

Former Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection during John Mahama’s administration, Rachel Appoh, has recounted a number of things she went through while serving under then Minister, Nana Oye Lithur at the Gender Ministry.

The former MP and deputy Minister says she at a point in time had to work from the Ministry’s reception for more than a year as ‘punishment’ for failing to agree with Nana Oye Lithur on a number of decisions she had taken in the discharge of her duty as Minister.

According to her, even though she was appointed as a Deputy Minister for the Gender Ministry by then President Mahama, her substantive Minister, Nana Oye Lithur, made life a living hell for her.

She said there was bad blood between Nana Oye Lithur and her two deputies – Rachel Appoh and Benita Sena Okity Duah – a situation she believes led to the two deputy ministers losing their seats in Parliament.

“I am not a hypocrite, there were real issues at the Ministry. We were always in the news and that made Sena and myself lose our seats. We lost our seats way back in 2014 even before the election. We did all we could to revive the situation before the general election but I guess it was too late,” she said.

She said despite persistent attempts to draw the attention of the leadership of the party to deal with the chaos at the ministry, very little attention was given.

“Chairman Allotey noticed the gravity of the issues and the effect it was having on the NDC in four (4) constituencies in the Central Region. I remember him asking leaders of the party to settle the issues because it was not about me alone,” she noted.

The Deputy Minister expressed shock about how the party sat aloof while the issues lingered.

“It is surprising how the party didn’t do anything about it till we lost those seats and they are now fighting to win them back,” she added.

The former MP disclosed she has decided not to contest the upcoming NDC primaries but wants to dedicate her time to make sure their presidential candidate, John Mahama, wins the 2020 general elections.