The Member of Parliament for Madina, Hon. Francis Xavier Sosu, has questioned the government’s commitment to introducing a Bill on paternity leave and extending the duration of maternity leave.

According to the MP, it is merely a political gimmick by the NPP government, as it is not committed to ensuring the passage of such a bill.

On Tuesday, July 23, Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam presented the mid-year budget to Parliament, announcing a draft Labor Bill, 2024 to enhance labor administration.

The bill proposes five days of paternity leave for male workers within three months of childbirth, surrogacy, or adoption of a child under one year.

However, Francis Xavier Sosu, the MP for Madina and a leading advocate for paternity leave, expressed skepticism, despite his own efforts to champion a bill on the matter.

“The Bill I introduced on the extension of maternity leave and the introduction of paternity leave has reached an advanced stage. The final drafts are ready and they’re actually on the way to be gazetted so that we can do the first reading for it to be referred to the appropriate committee”.
“So, all things being equal, if Parliament is able to pay closer attention to those bills, they definitely will pass before this Parliament will come to an end and I’m hoping and looking forward to the passing. What the government has said I don’t believe in what they are promising.’’
Hon. Francis Xavier Sosu

Hon. Sosu emphasized that if the government has any shred of decency and respect for the Ghanaian people, it should embrace his bill and commit to doing everything in its power to ensure its passage, rather than introducing its own draft bill.

He pointed out that merely announcing plans to extend maternity leave in Parliament, just days before leaving office, demonstrates a lack of commitment, urgency, seriousness, and respect for the Ghanaian people.

Paternity Leave Plan Sparks Mixed Reactions

Meanwhile, the Government’s push to introduce paternity leave by the end of 2024 is receiving mixed reactions.

Labor consultant Austin Gamey cast doubt on the likelihood of the bill being passed before the end of 2024, expressing skepticism about the government’s ability to meet the deadline.

‘‘Parliament is closing any moment from now, and will be back in November and they are busy campaigning. Labor law is not one of the traditional laws you can just wake up and pass. It will take a hell of time to pass it. So, I do not believe it can be passed now, but is a good thing to put it in the law”.
Austin Gamey

He noted that some organizations already offer paternity leave as part of their employee benefits or conditions of service.

Mr. Gamey noted that numerous companies have already embraced paternity leave, integrating it into their collective agreements and conditions of service, setting a positive precedent for broader adoption.

He revealed that he already provides paternity leave for his employees, but emphasized that making it a legal requirement would need careful consideration of its potential consequences.

The Labor (Amendment) Bill, 2023, sponsored by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, aims to introduce paid paternity leave for men, ranging from seven days to four weeks, with an optional extension of two weeks in cases of cesarean section, stillbirth, or multiple births.

This comprehensive bill, dubbed ‘Parental Leave for All,’ aims to provide a robust framework of support and provisions for new parents, fostering a more inclusive and nurturing environment for families.

This initiative seeks to provide new mothers with a sufficient period to safely give birth, establish a strong bond with their newborn, exclusively breastfeed, and fully recover before resuming their work responsibilities.