The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has shared her experience regarding the aftermath of her late arrival at her swearing-in ceremony, following her appointment by President John Dramani Mahama.
According to her, the public scrutiny surrounding her lateness took a significant mental and psychological toll, causing her to be worried.
Sharing details into her life before entering politics, Dr Lartey revealed that she has always been an introvert and generally avoids actions that draw unnecessary attention to herself.
“It did because I have been an introvert, but for politics, and I’m also very sensitive. I’m not the type that will intentionally go and do something that will call for unnecessary attention. If I sat somewhere and said it didn’t, I would be lying.
“I was very worried, especially people who knew me and all that. I kept asking myself, what could I have done to have saved this situation? I don’t like too much excuses,” she said in an interview on JoyNews on May 23, 2025.
Dr Lartey expressed her profound gratitude to the president for granting her another opportunity despite the setback, acknowledging that the situation could have been far more detrimental had the president chosen to dismiss or sanction her.
“Some of these things, the more you explain yourself, the more you get into trouble. I’ve never stopped appreciating His Excellency for the opportunity he gave me. There were so many things he could have done, whether it was my fault or it wasn’t my fault. There were so many decisions he could have taken, but he took the decision to give me another chance,” she added.
Background
Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey missed her swearing-in ceremony at Jubilee House due to a late appearance in January 2025 following her appointment as Gender minister.
The Member of Parliament for the Krowor constituency, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), was among five others scheduled to be sworn in by the President on Friday, January 24, 2025.
They explanation for her lateness, provided by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, indicated that she had informed the Presidency of a family emergency that required her to travel outside Accra.
“Naa Momo truthfully indicated that a family emergency had taken her out of Accra, and therefore, it was going to be very close. We encouraged her to come nonetheless and that if she got there in time, she would be added, and if for some reason she could not make it, we would do it another time,” he explained.
Watch the video below:
“Being late for my swearing-in took a toll on me. Before politics, I was an introvert — not someone who would deliberately seek unnecessary attention.”
– Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey breaks her silence on the swearing-in incident | #PMExpress pic.twitter.com/V1lnr90v68— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) May 23, 2025
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After the heavy rains over the weekend, a lot of debris have been left across many parts of Accra. Watch some of the destructions below:
