During her vetting in Parliament on Wednesday, January 22, Naa Momo Lartey, the ministerial nominee for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, expressed her commitment to championing improved maternity leave policies in Ghana.
Her remarks highlighted the importance of supporting women during the postpartum period to ensure both their health and that of 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," she stated, advocating for a more compassionate approach to maternity leave. "As an employer, I will encourage you that if you even have the opportunity to grant six months leave, please do that." Currently, Ghanaian law provides a minimum of 12 weeks (three months) of maternity leave for working mothers, which some advocates argue is insufficient for the physical recovery and bonding required during the early months of motherhood.
In comparison, countries such as Kenya and South Africa offer 14 and 16 weeks of maternity leave, respectively, with global calls for aligning with the International Labour Organization's recommendation of at least 14 weeks.
Recognizing the importance of stakeholder engagement, Naa Momo Lartey pledged to work collaboratively to push for 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.
