Otiko Djaba rejects ambassador job

The immediate past Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Otiko Afisa Djaba has declined the president’s offer to serve as Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy.

The 56-year old has further announced she is retiring from active politics.

The Akufo-Addo loyalist said she has informed the President of both decisions and expects to “relax and enjoy my family”.

Ms Djaba before joining the Akufo-Addo government in February 2017 was the NPP National Women’s Organiser who liked to call for fasting and prayers as the party entered a crucial general election in December 2016.

Ms Djaba also liked to jab the then president Mahama and the NDC, a penchant that attracted payback time when she faced NDC MPs on the Parliament’s Appointments committee following her nomination as minister.

But after 17 months into the Akufo-Addo government, an expected reshuffle claimed her position as the Gender minister was to be shipped out of the country to Italian shores.

Apparently, leaving the country has proved too much to ask for the female politician who says she prefers to take care of her ex-husband who has a stroke for the past six years.

“I cannot abandon him now” the divorcee told Daily Graphic.

After the bold attempt in 2008 to challenge John Mahama for his Bole Bamboi seat, Otiko Djaba leaves the political limelight.

She becomes the second minister to leave the government after the President sacked his Energy minister Boakye Agyarko.