The Ghanaian government is set to introduce paternity leave as part of its 2024 labour reforms.
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Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam announced the plan during his mid-year budget review presentation to Parliament on July 23.
The new policy will be included in the draft Labour Bill for 2024, which aims to strengthen labour administration and regulate the working environment.
The proposed reforms also include improving labour migration governance, enhancing employment coordination, and extending maternity leave.
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The Labour (Amendment) Bill for 2023, finalized by Parliament in June 2024, includes provisions for paternity leave. To claim this leave, men will need to provide a medical certificate indicating the expected date of their spouse’s confinement.
The bill also allows for extending paternity leave by at least two weeks in cases of caesarean sections, stillbirths, or multiple births. Additionally, male workers who adopt a child under three months old will be eligible for paternity leave.
The bill also proposes extending maternity leave from twelve weeks to between seventeen and twenty-six weeks, and includes provisions for flexible working conditions for pregnant or lactating female workers.
These reforms represent a significant step towards promoting gender equality and supporting working families in Ghana.
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