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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
News
Ebi Bright contests Charles Forson’s election as Tema Central MP in court
NDC parliamentary candidate for Tema Central, Ebi Bright has filed a petition at the High Court challenging the election of Charles Forson as a Member of Parliament.
She claims that the results upon which Charles Forson was declared as the winner of the election are not a true reflection of the polls.
According to the petition, the results included three polling station results fraught with irregularities.
Ebi Bright alleges that the original pink sheets for the three polling stations in the custody of the Electoral Commission had the names and signatures of the presiding officers while the duplicates given to the NDC did not have the same.
She alleges further that the total number of votes obtained by the candidates on the three original pink sheets does not tally with the total valid votes or total votes.
On the basis of these, she wants the court to invalidate the results from the three polling stations and overturn the declaration of Charles Forson as a Member of Parliament.
She, however, wants the court to refer to earlier results that excluded the three disputed polling stations which saw her being declared as a member of parliament.
In the alternative, she wants the court to order a re-run in the three polling stations.
On Saturday, January 4, an Accra High Court directed the Electoral Commission (EC) to complete the collation of results from two outstanding polling stations for the Tema Central constituency. This directive followed mandamus applications filed by New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidates in affected constituencies, compelling the EC to fulfil its statutory obligations.
Presiding over the cases, Justice Forson Agyapong explained the legal basis for mandamus applications, citing jurisdictional lapses, legal errors, and breaches of natural justice as valid grounds. He emphasized that the EC has a public duty to execute its responsibilities impartially and in accordance with the law.
In the case of Tema Central, the court found that the EC had failed to fulfil its duty by excluding the results from two polling stations. Justice Agyapong clarified that only the returning officer’s declaration is legally valid and directed the EC to complete the collation process at its Accra Regional Office.
Following the court-ordered collation, Charles Forson of the NPP was confirmed as the winner of the parliamentary race. Forson secured 18,870 votes, narrowly defeating the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Ebi Bright, who garnered 18,815 votes. An independent candidate, Frederick Aniagyei, received 209 votes.
The total valid votes cast amounted to 37,894, with 144 rejected ballots, bringing the overall total votes to 38,038.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
News
NPP withdraws from Media General platforms over alleged bias
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced its immediate withdrawal from all platforms operated by Media General.
According to the party, this decision comes after months of engagement with the production team, hosts, and management of Media General to address concerns.
In the statement, they stated that their concerns include unprintable
attacks on leading figures of the party, biased paneling of guests, and disruptive hosting of political shows designed primarily to drown and ereate doubt about the submissions of NPP representatives.
According to them, despite repeated assurances sinee 2023, the observed unprofessionalism and unfairness persist.
“For instance, a regular guest known for making inflammatory remarks recently insulted former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on a programme hosted by Madam Keminni Amanor,” he said.
They stated, strangely, that the host did not stop or object to the unwarranted attacks on the former president; “she merely laughed them off. She allowed them We invite the general public to objectively assess the panelling, hosting, and general coverage of the NPP on Media General platforms. They will see that these unfair practices exist and target the NPP.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
