Maternity Leave and Breastfeeding: Why Ghana Must Catch Up with Global Standards

Around the world, paid maternity leave is recognised as a critical investment in maternal and child health. International bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) recommend a minimum of 14 weeks of maternity leave, with provisions that support breastfeeding, job security, and income protection.

Some countries, including Bulgaria and Croatia, provide over a year of paid maternity leave, while the United Kingdom offers up to 52 weeks, with 39 weeks paid. India mandates 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, and Germany combines 14 weeks of paid leave with up to three years of job-protected parental leave. These generous policies are not only socially progressive but also rooted in a strong evidence base linking extended maternity leave to better maternal recovery, higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding, and reduced infant mortality.

In contrast, Ghana’s legal framework for maternity leave remains limited. The current provision under the Labour Act, 2003 offers only 12 weeks of paid leave, with a one-hour daily break for breastfeeding upon return to work. This falls short of both global recommendations and the lived realities of most mothers, particularly those in the informal sector. For many women working in markets, small-scale trade, domestic work, or other forms of informal employment, there is little to no maternity protection. These mothers often return to work just weeks after childbirth due to financial pressure, putting their health and that of their infants at risk.

A growing body of research highlights the impact of this gap. Studies conducted to assess maternity protection among healthcare workers in Ghana have shown that a significant proportion of working mothers lack access to breastfeeding-friendly environments. One study among healthcare workers found that fewer than 18 percent were able to breastfeed during working hours, and over 80 percent reported that their workplaces lacked dedicated spaces for nursing or expressing breast milk. As a result, many mothers are forced to introduce water, herbal mixtures, or solid foods earlier than recommended, leading to early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding.

Globally, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain below target. The WHO has set a global nutrition goal to reach at least 50 percent exclusive breastfeeding among infants under six months by 2025. However, Ghana’s current rate stands at just 43 percent, and there are signs that this figure is declining. One of the key drivers of this trend is inadequate maternity leave and poor workplace support, particularly for the growing number of women employed outside the formal sector.

The consequences are serious. Suboptimal breastfeeding is associated with nearly 600,000 child deaths annually and costs the global economy an estimated 257 to 341 billion US dollars each year due to increased healthcare costs and lost productivity. In Ghana, the lack of support for breastfeeding mothers contributes to preventable illnesses in children, including respiratory infections and malnutrition. Research also shows that mothers who lack access to paid maternity leave are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, and their babies are more likely to miss out on the protective benefits of breast milk.

There have been encouraging signs of policy movement in Ghana. A proposed Labour (Amendment) Bill seeks to extend maternity leave from 12 to at least 17 weeks, and possibly up to 26 weeks. The bill also includes provisions for paternity leave and flexible work arrangements for pregnant and nursing mothers. Advocacy from the Trades Union Congress and public support from key political leaders signal growing recognition that maternity protection is a public health issue, not just a labour rights concern.

To make meaningful progress, Ghana should extend maternity leave to at least the ILO-recommended 14 weeks, strengthen income protection for informal workers, ensure breastfeeding support in all workplaces, and enforce maternity rights across all sectors.

Maternity protection is not a privilege but a necessity. It enables women to care for their children without sacrificing their livelihoods, strengthens families, and contributes to a healthier, more productive society. As Ghana marks World Breastfeeding Week, this is the moment to move from advocacy to action and ensure no mother has to choose between her income and her child’s well-being.