Election 2020: NDC promises to increase maternity leave to four months

The running mate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has said that her party will increase maternity leave from three to four months if they win the December polls.

“I sympathize with young mothers, but you will be happy to know when our manifesto is launched that we have increased the maternity leave [period],” she said.

Ghana’s labour laws have made provisions for women to be given paid maternity leave for a period no less than 3 months plus the duration of her annual leave.

But Civil society groups believe the three- month period is woefully inadequate.

Though the CSOs have advocated for an increase from three to six months, the NDC says it will increase it by a month.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang said the increase to four months will be fully paid leave periods.

“We have moved it from three months to four months fully paid maternity leave and we are also going to ensure that until the child is nine months, the woman truly has time,” the former Education Minister said.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang also disclosed that her party plans to introduce an insurance scheme for farmers.

“We have seasonal workers. We should think about them too. When it is the lean fishing season, what do the fishermen do?

“We should bring them in…. In our manifesto, we are talking about insurance for them. Making contributions to insurance and pensions schemes,” he said.