I’ll champion improved maternity leave – Naa Momo Lartey
President John Dramani Mahama’s ministerial nominee for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Naa Momo Lartey, has expressed her commitment to championing improved maternity leave policies in Ghana.
During her vetting in Parliament on Wednesday, January 22, she pledged to work closely with gender advocates, civil society organisations, and other key stakeholders to explore ways of extending the current three-month maternity leave period.
In her statement before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, Naa Momo Lartey underscored the importance of longer maternity leave for the well-being of mothers and children.
She highlighted the need for employers to consider offering extended leave periods, such as six months, which would not only allow mothers to recover adequately but also enable them to provide better care for their newborns.
“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.
Naa Momo Lartey also mentioned the possibility of extending parental leave to fathers, ensuring that both parents have sufficient time to bond with their newborns and share caregiving responsibilities.
This progressive approach, she argued, aligns with modern family dynamics and promotes gender equity in caregiving roles.
The nominee emphasised her willingness to engage with various stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and gender advocates, to achieve this goal.
She acknowledged the efforts of existing advocates who have been campaigning for better parental leave policies and pledged to lend her voice and influence to the cause.
“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.
