Minister Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection pledges to champion maternity leave policies

The Minister Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey has promised to champion maternity leave policies in Ghana.

 She also emphasized the importance of extending the current three month maternity leave period to support the well-being of both mother and child.

 Madam Lartey said this on Wednesday during her vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Wednesday in Accra.

“It is important for women to have a prolonged leave period, not only to take care of the children but also to properly heal,” Dr Lartey said

 In an attempt to promote gender equality, she pledged to support parental leave to benefits fathers.

Also, Dr Lartey said there was the need for collaboration with key stakeholdrers, including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and gender advocates, to achieve these policies.

“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,” the Krowor Member of Parliament said.

 Also, she indicated that, the Ministry will explore ways of providing affordable sanitary pads vulnerable girls.

This, she said will ensure girls do not fall victim  tomen who offer to buy them sanitary pads in exchange  for  sex, leading  to teenage pregnancy.

“There must be a way to provide affordable sanitary pads  for vulnerable girls  so they don’t fall prey  to the men  who buy it for them,” she  said.

 The  Gender, Children and  Social Protection   Minister Designate also mentioned that  she will set up  a Child support  scheme to provide  support for vulnerable children  rescued from trafficking.

By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu