In 2008, Djaba contested the Bole Bamboi seat on the ticket of the NPP but lost to former president, John Dramani Mahama[9] and later became Women's Organizer of the New Patriotic Party.[10] She was appointed Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection in 2017.[11] In August 2018, she was appointed Ghana's ambassador to Italy but declined the offer.[12][13]
Otiko Djaba was named the 2018 Best African Gender Minister by a Los Angeles film maker, Ms Zuriel Elisie Oduwole, who doubles as an advocate for education.[14]
Minority legislators walked out of a voting process to approve Djaba's appointment as Gender, Children and Social Protection minister collectively stating that "they believe her temperament and attitude does not give [them] assurance that she will be able to better manage the affairs of Ghanaian children and women".[15] Prior to the 2016 general election in Ghana, Djaba had called on her Gonja tribes-people to vote John Mahama out because he has not being faithful to them,[16] describing him at a political rally in 2016 as “very wicked, incompetent and desperate".[17] She maintained that her comments were non-provocative and that she did "not owe anybody an apology", continuing to insist on her use of the same language to describe the former president.[18] Two other concerns were also raised by the opposition legislators: the first was about her violation of The Ghana National Service Scheme Act 426 section 7 which mandates all university graduates do a compulsory one year national service to the country before taking public office. The second was around her reiterating the assertion that Charlotte Osei offered sexual favors to Mahama in exchange for her position as Electoral Commission of Ghana chairperson.[19]
Despite opposition members walking out of the secret ballot, Djaba obtained 152 favorable votes in excess of the 50% required to secure her the position.[20]
Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba now hosts a Television Programme on TV3 dubbed "Let's Talk Ability".[21]
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