A simple reminder from Mahama Ayariga during his ministerial vetting ended up revealing a detail about his family that many Ghanaians may not have known: his wife, Millicent Amankwah Yeboah, is also a Member of Parliament.
The Majority Leader appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 27, for his vetting as Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
The moment came after Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor introduced Mr Ayariga’s father-in-law but overlooked his wife, who was seated among those accompanying the nominee.
Mr Ayariga quickly pointed out the omission.
“Mr Chairman, you have introduced the father-in-law, but you haven’t introduced the daughter,” he said.
Mr Ahiafor subsequently acknowledged the Sunyani West MP, saying: “We have the spouse, Hon Mrs Ayariga, formerly known as Hon Millicent Yeboah-Amankwah, a Member of Parliament here in our midst.”
The exchange brought an otherwise routine vetting session a lighter moment while also drawing attention to a relatively uncommon situation in Ghanaian politics.
Millicent Amankwah Yeboah and her husband are both serving Members of Parliament, placing them among the small number of married couples to occupy parliamentary seats at the same time.
The revelation has attracted additional interest because it follows another recent disclosure involving two NDC public officials who are married.
Majority Chief Whip and South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor recently referred to Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive Ebi Bright as his “sweet wife and a wonderful mother” in a birthday message shared on social media.
The post surprised many Ghanaians who were unaware that the two public officials were married.
