John Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to extend maternity leave for mothers to four months and introduce a week-long paternity leave for fathers if he wins the upcoming elections.
Currently, mothers in Ghana are entitled to three months of leave after childbirth. Mahama, speaking at the NDC women’s manifesto launch on September 30, stated that extending maternity leave by an additional month would give mothers more time to care for their newborns during the crucial early stages.
“By the fourth month, when a baby begins to wean, mothers often have to return to work. I will add an extra month to allow mothers to monitor their child’s development before resuming their professional responsibilities,” he said.
Mahama also proposed a week of paternity leave for fathers, enabling them to support mothers during this important period. However, he specified that fathers must provide proof of marriage to qualify for this leave.
Under this policy, legally married fathers will have the opportunity to take part in caring for their newborn, while mothers receive four months of maternity leave to focus on their child’s early development.
