President John Dramani Mahama’s ministerial nominee for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Naa Momo Lartey, has called for a review of Ghana’s maternity leave policies, advocating for an extension from the current three-month period to six months.
During her vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 22, Naa Momo Lartey underscored the importance of longer maternity leave in promoting the health and well-being of mothers and their children.
“It is important for women to have a prolonged leave period, not only to take care of the children but also to properly heal. As an employer, I will encourage you that if you even have the opportunity to grant six months leave, please do that,” she stated.
She emphasized that extended leave would enable mothers to recover adequately from childbirth and provide better care for their newborns. Beyond maternity leave, the nominee also suggested the possibility of extending parental leave to fathers, arguing that shared caregiving responsibilities would foster stronger family bonds and promote gender equity in caregiving roles.
Naa Momo Lartey pledged to collaborate with gender advocates, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other key stakeholders to explore feasible ways of implementing these progressive reforms.
“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. If the people of Ghana agree to it, then I will be the number one champion,” she declared.
The nominee acknowledged the efforts of existing advocates campaigning for better parental leave policies and expressed her readiness to leverage her position to advance the cause. She believes these changes align with modern family dynamics and will contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable society.
Her bold stance on maternity and parental leave policies has sparked discussions among stakeholders, with many viewing her approach as a step toward addressing the challenges faced by working parents in Ghana.
