During her vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 22, 2025, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Ministerial Nominee for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, pledged to advocate for extended maternity leave policies in Ghana.
Dr. Lartey emphasized the importance of prolonging the current three-month maternity leave to six months, highlighting that such an extension would allow mothers adequate time to recover and bond with their new-borns.
She stated, “It is important for women to have a prolonged leave period, not only to take care of the children but also to properly heal.”
She also addressed the significance of paternity leave, noting that extending parental leave to fathers would ensure both parents have sufficient time to bond with their new-borns and share caregiving responsibilities. This approach, she argued, aligns with modern family dynamics and promotes gender equity in caregiving roles.
To achieve these objectives, Dr. Lartey expressed her commitment to collaborating with various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and gender advocates. She stated, “I will sit with all stakeholders, CSOs who are deep into it, and I will join the many advocates to look at what is best and ensure that we push it.”
Currently, Ghana offers a three-month maternity leave to both spouses. However, Dr. Lartey’s proposal to extend this to six months has been applauded by many.
Source:Ghanacelebrities.com