The decision to snub the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Korley Klottey constituency, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, as minister has apparently disturbed a former justice of the Supreme Court, Justice William Atuguba, airing it out publicly.
According to the outspoken judge, he had anticipated the appointment of the first child of the founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jerry John Rawlings but to his surprise this eluded her.
In his estimation, the medical doctor more than qualify as a minister and has handled herself as not a politician but nationalist. He said Zanetor, who was in May 2026, elected, as the Second Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament, is a woman of “principle”, “dedication” and “integrity”, who people need to aspire to.
The non-appointment of Dr Agyeman-Rawlings into government has been a subject matter that has been discussed at various platforms including Parliament.
The MP who has been in the august house since 2017 was speculated for the Defence and also Health ministries. But this did not happen. After the demise of Dr Edward Omane Boamah, she was speculated for the Defence Ministry. President John Mahama whose responsibility it is to appoint has since last year august failed to appoint a substantive minister.
Speaking at a public lecture held in honour of the Speaker of the First and Second of the Parliaments, Rt. Hon. Daniel Francis Kweipe Annan who passed away some 20 years ago, Justice Atuguba complained broadly about the lack of quality in political leadership and justice system.
Delivering the keynote address, Justice Atuguba decried the snub saying the legislator is not only capable of handling a ministerial portfolio, she is a leading light when it comes to distinguish personalities without blemish.
“I’ve said that all is not lost. Unfortunately, Murtala Mohammed and Omane Boamah have passed. But there are others. Somebody like Zanetor Rawlings. She’s not a politician. She’s a woman of the people. I’ve been following her activities. I don’t know her, I’ve never spoken to her, never met her.
But I’m convinced that that’s the kind of politician people should aspire to be. Up till now, that’s why I don’t get involved in politics. I don’t know why she’s not yet a minister. I hope by saying that, I’ve not destroyed her chances.
From social media things, sometimes they even announce her as deputy minister. I say, oh, she could be the substantive minister. Then is something, something. But I think there is something. Then why not? Why not? Such a woman of principle, of dedication, of integrity. Why not?”
Justice Atuguba played glowing tribute to the memory of late Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, a former Minister for Science and Technology, who together with others died in a tragic plane crash in August 2025.
He said they were equally men of integrity and principle who he would have wished the calamity that befell them didn’t.
He additionally lauded certain principled personalities like former majority leader and Member of Parliament for the Suame constituency, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Andy Appiah Kubi, former MP for Asante Akyem North and others.
“You have another person. I’ve never seen him. But since the days of his bold uprising if I may so put it against the former finance minister, I’ve developed a soft spot for him. What’s his name? Appiah Kubi
The price he paid for that was the loss of his seat. Look at that. For standing on the correct thing. This is the type of politics? Is that commendable?
I also want to acknowledge the stance of Kyei Mensah Bonsu, who said that it’s unnecessary to create more parliamentary seats. But I don’t know why a small country like Ghana the number was hundred or so then 274, what’s the reason of that? What is the true benefit to the people from this kind of thing? Most of it is gerrymandering.
Sometimes it plays out to the benefit of the person who indulges, sometimes not. Ghana do we need an ever-increasing number of MPs with their attendant economic burdens? I’m happy that the Constitutional Review Commission, has recommended that the 276 should be retained no addition no subtraction”, he said.
Born in 1928, Justice D. F Annan served in different portfolios—-state attorney, senior state attorney, circuit court judge, court of appeal judge, and speaker. He died in 2006.
By Gifty Boateng