Meet the shortest-serving Minister Under Akufo-Addo

Member of Parliament for Tano North, Freda Prempeh made history after President Akufo-Addo,appointed and booted her out as Minister of Sanitation in 8 Months.

Madam Freda Prempeh was Minister of State when Akufo-Addo appointed her to the role in July 2023 as the new Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources

Freda Prempeh took over from Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, whose letter of resignation, dated Saturday, 22nd July 2023, was accepted by the President on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

From July 2023 to 14th February 2024, Freda Prempeh became the shortest-serving Minister Under Akufo-Addo and in Ghana’s history, the shortest-tenured Sanitation Minister. She was replaced by Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan.

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR), is a Ministry in the Infrastructure Sector under the Office of the Head of Civil Service.

It was established in January, 2017 to act and play a major role in the national, regional and global effort to provide the needed support to the sanitation and water sectors.

Until its establishment the water sector was part of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and the sanitation sector was part of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

About Freda Prempeh 

The Ministry website still has Freda Prempeh’s Biography:

Hon. Dr. Freda Prempeh, is a self-disciplined devoted Public Servant of Ghana and a Brands & Communication Expert. She is a three-time Member of Parliament for Tano-North Constituency, the only female MP in the Bono and Ahafo Regions. She is the immediate past Minister of State, Office of the President, and the Works and Housing Ministry. She is also a former Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, and Gender Children and Social Protection Ministry.

She obtained her 1st Degree in Business Administration from the University of Ghana. Hon. Dr. Freda Prempeh has a Masters in Marketing, Masters in Media and Public Relation, and also bagged a PhD in Business Administration from the Ghana Telecommunication University in March 2021. She had the award of the best Student in Population Communication in July 31, 1998 from the Ghana Institute of Journalism.

She has been a gender activist for years and founder of The Ultimate Woman.

Hon. Dr. Freda Prempeh has the aptitude for politics and as such served as Assembly Member for the Lakoo Electoral Area for a period of eight years where she chaired the Women and Children Sub-Committee and the Development Planning Sub-Committee. Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, she worked with the Prison Service for 10 years. She also served on the National Reconciliation Commission as a Public Affairs Officer from in 2006.

She got the nod from her constituency to be the MP of the Tano North Constituency in the Ahafo region on the ticket of the NPP in the year 2012, and has since been their Parliamentary representative for 11 years.

Through her relentless effort and commitment, she served on the Communications, Local Government, Government Assurances and the Mines and Energy committees in Parliament in the past years and is currently serving on the Education, Defence and Interior, and The Standing Orders Committee.

She is a development-oriented person and has chalked a lot of successes in her quest to develop her constituency. Health, Sanitation, Education and Infrastructural Development remain her priorities and high on her agenda.

As a sports fanatic and staunch believer of women’s capabilities, she founded Women Supporters Union of Ghana (WOSUGHA). She was the Chairperson of the just ended Women’s Championship, African Cup of Nations, (AFCON) hosted in Ghana. She is an accredited member of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR, Ghana), an Associate Member of Institute of Public Relations (IPR, Ghana) and an Affiliate Member of the Journalists Association (GJA).

Hon. Dr. Freda Prempeh has attended a number of workshops and conferences, and received many awards in recognition of her undaunting leadership, dedication and selfless service and also promoting gender issues. Amongst the many awards are the Ultimate Woman Laureate, Orlando Spirit of Service Award, and The Brong-Ahafo Young Adult Fellowship Award for Excellence, Distinguished Leadership Award for Excellence and the Ghana Nigeria Achievers Award.

Despite her busy schedules, she has very interesting hobbies which she usually engage in as a way of relaxation. Paramount of them are cooking, dancing, and watching movies and sports.