Give fathers 1-month leave - Amnesty International

Amnesty International, (AI) has proposed the passage of a law that will capture paternity leave for male workers.

The proposal was tabled at a forum to discuss issues affecting career women and their responsibilities at home.

Robert Akoto Amanfo, Country Director for AI Ghana, told Chief Jerry Forson on Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Friday, 9 March that apart from the normal working leave period every formal worker is entitled to, the fathers do not have any legal basis to ask for another leave period to enable them cater for their wives in labour.

He noted that most organisations deny men the opportunity to go on leave to take care of their wives after they have delivered, a situation he said is creating problems for workers.

“The compulsory 1-month paternity leave will ensure that men are able to support their wives when they are in labour,” he told show host Forson.

“There may be several complications associated with the pregnancy but as we speak today, the man has no legal basis to ask for leave to support his wife apart from his normal leave period, in order to help him cater for his wife.”