Former Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Rachel Appoh has withdrawn from the Gomoa Central parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

This comes after the party opened nomination for the primaries today October 6, 2023 ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Making the announcement on her birthday, Rachel Appoh said the decision is to focus on her health.

“I was intrigued to contest but it’s unfortunate that for the past Eight to 10 months I have had three Accidents that nearly took my life. Looking at the current challenges battling my health, the Doctors advice that I cannot contest for the upcoming (primaries) elections” she wrote on Facebook.

The former Gomoa Central MP expressed gratitude to constituents and NDC for the opportunity to serve as the youngest female MP in the 6th Parliament and the Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of the 4th Republic.

“I wish the good people of Gomoa Central NDC the very best and peaceful elections. A victory for one is a victory for all. I also pledge my wholesome support to any aspirant that will win . The victory of Gomoa central NDC and the Victory of the NDC in entirety in the coming 2024 Election is my topmost priority” she added.

Profile

A professional accountant, Rachel Appoh rose through the political ranks to become the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central.

Her dedication to the growth of women and gender issues saw her appointed as Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection under the Mahama administration.

She has two master’s degrees; MSc in International Finance and Accounting from the University of Buckinghamshire (UK) in 2015 and a Master’s in Governance and Leadership (MGL) from GIMPA.

She is the Executive Director of Obaa Sima Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that sets out to offer help and provide hope to widows, the physically challenged and children from deprived areas.

Hon. Rachel Appoh, who has been in Ghana’s entertainment industry for 22 years, is also the Executive Producer of Ahenfie Court, a popular series on UTV.

A former Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has declared her decision to contest the parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress for the Gomoa Central constituency.

Rachel Appoh is preparing to take back the seat she occupied between 2012 and 2016.

Her decision to return follows, intense pressure from traditional authorities and community leaders in the constituency for her to come back and continue what they believe to be the good work she started.

Despite not occupying any role, Rachel Appoh through her Obaa Sima Foundation undertook a number of projects in the constituency including building CHP Compounds and schools.

The charity projects were aimed at empowering women and youth in the constituency so she has also embarked on vocational skills training for the youth and supporting women in agriculture in the constituency.

A professional accountant, Rachel Appoh rose through the political ranks to become the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central.

Her dedication to the growth of women and gender issues saw her appointed as Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection under the Mahama administration.

She has two master’s degrees; MSc in International Finance and Accounting from the University of Buckinghamshire (UK) in 2015 and a Master’s in Governance and Leadership (MGL) from GIMPA.

She is the Executive Director of Obaa Sima Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that sets out to offer help and provide hope to widows, the physically challenged and children from deprived areas.

Former Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection in the erstwhile Mahama administration, Rachel Appoh, has marked her 40th birthday with a breast cancer awareness campaign.

She underscored the need for all women to do regular breast screening for early detection of breast cancer.

“Detecting cancer early when treatment works best is critical to saving lives. Said DPHHS Cancer Control Program USA, Supervisor Leah Merchant. Starting at age 40, women should talk to their medical provider about the benefits of screening and women of average risk aged 50 to 74 years old should have a mammogram done at least every 2 years.

“Therefore as I celebrate my birthday today, I urge all women to invest their time by going to a nearby hospital to screen their breasts. As the theme goes ‘ Together We C.A.N. God bless all the donors on this special month. Cheers to me,” she wrote in a post on Facebook.

Rachel Appoh, also a former Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, shared beautiful pictures to mark her 40th birthday.

Former Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Rachel Appoh has expressed gratitude to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for seeing to the birth of her political career.

Taking to social media to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the NDC, she stated that due to the efforts of the political party, the Gomoa Central constituency had its first legislator being a female.

According to her, if not for the political party, she would not have served as a representative on the Public Accounts Committee for the 6th Parliament as well as become a deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

“I celebrate you today for giving me the opportunity to serve on your ticket as the youngest female MP at the Majority on the 6th Parliament and the Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of the 4th Republic.

“At least I can now boast of being the first MP for Gomoa Central constituency, the 1st woman to represent on public account leadership in the history of Ghana, the youngest among the Executives/Ministers of State, the first woman to become a Minister in the history of these two constituencies under one district, Gomoa East and Central respectively,” she communicated.

The former appointee of the erstwhile John Mahama administration further testified that as a member of the Executive, she had the privilege to partake in several engagements with international bodies.

Some countries she cited include UK, USA, Switzerland, Turkey, Holland, Nigeria, Mexico, France, Japan, Canada among others.

“Thanks to the party’s leadership for their motivation. I really appreciate this great NDC party as we celebrate our 29th anniversary,” she concluded.

The National Democratic Congress Thursday, June 10, 2021, marked its 29th anniversary and for the first time, the party celebrated the event without the founder, Jerry John Rawlings.

During the event at the party headquarters, General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia touted the role of the party in the making of the 1992 constitution and how the party will forge ahead without founder Jerry John Rawlings.

He further described the NDC as the most successful party since the country gained independence.

Former Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central constituency, Rachel Appoh, has been honored at this year’s Ghana Tertiary Entertainment Awards for her contribution to the development of the youth in Ghana.

The awards ceremony, held on Saturday, June 20, 2020, was also to commend the former Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection for her successful elevation from a female student leader to mainstream politics.

A citation that accompanied the plaque given to the former National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislator further recognised her humanitarian activities in Ghana.

Receiving the honourary award, Rachel Appoh commended the awards organisers for initiating the awards scheme.

She said she was overwhelmed by the recognition, adding, “thank you Tertiary Entertainment Award 2020 organisers. I really appreciate your love and recognition. God bless you.”

Ghana Tertiary Awards is an annual “student festival” that seeks to recognise the ingenuity and efforts of tertiary students across the country.

Rachel Appoh began her career in politics as the first Women’s Commissioner of the Students Representative Council (SRC) at the Pentecost University. She is a founding member of the of Tein (NDC) at the university.

She is also an accountant by profession and holds MSc in International Finance and Accounting from university of Buckingham, UK and an MA in Governance and Leadership from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

She was Deputy ranking member on the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament and the youngest female MP of 6th Parliament.

Former Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Rachel Appoh, says she has noted with concern the public bashing following a video of actress, Nana Ama McBrown, licking the mouth and hands of her daughter in public.

The incident which occurred during the one-year birthday celebration of McBrown’s daughter, Baby Maxin, went viral.

The latest round of criticisms came from pundits on American-based TV station, Fox 5 News, who described the action as disgusting.

“As a former Deputy Gender Minister in charge of Social Welfare, I wish to add my voice to calls urging for calm and to cease fire because of the innocent child involved.

“This has become necessary in view of the fact that the attacks on the actress particularly on social media and online news portals would haunt the child in future,” Rachel Appoh, MP for Gomoa Central, said in a release issued on March 5, 2020.

The release said although McBrown’s action was “a bit on the high side,” it was purely based on motherly love for her child.

“It is for this reason that we advise the actress to be mindful of her actions and not use her tongue the next time, an action Social Welfare does not encourage. 

“The office wants to take this opportunity to advise all parents to be careful and live above the trappings of care giving,” the statement said.