The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has expressed dissatisfaction with Ghana’s maternity leave regime.
He is discontent with the current 12 weeks maternity leave period for nursing mothers in official employment in the country.
It is applicable when a female worker presents a medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner or a midwife detailing the expected date of her confinement.
Mr. Pratt Jnr who was speaking at a forum organized by the Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) called for an extension.
“I want anybody who has seen a six-week-old baby who has his head properly screwed on to tell me that it is okay for mothers to leave six weeks babies at home.”
It is absolutely reckless to have a maternity leave regime which says 6 weeks after birthing, our mothers should leave their newborn and go to work,” the Nkrumaist maintained.
He argued that it simply doesn’t make sense as the babies are fragile and need so much care from the mothers.
Mr. Pratt is advocating for the maternity leave to be extended to at least 6 months to enable nursing mothers to give proper care to their children.
He has thus challenged the general public to use the upcoming December 7 elections to demand the presidential candidates to make their positions clear on extending maternity leave.
He equally wants the authorities to allow men in the country to enjoy paternity leave.
Source:onuaonline.com