Accra, Sept. 16, GNA - The Network of Associations of Registered NGOs in Ghana, has supported a call by a Member of Parliament during the Busia regime to increase the current maternity leave from three to six months.

A statement issued by the Network on Tuesday in Accra said, Mrs Catherine Tedam, former Member of Parliament in the Busia administration made the call when she addressed the Quarterly Review Meeting of the Network for members from all the ten regions. It said Mrs Tedam was the one who tabled the motion that allowed working women to go on three months maternity leave with full salary during Dr. Busia's regime.

The statement quoted her saying: "We must be abreast with modern medical practices that enjoin mothers to breast-feed their children for the first six months of their lives. This augurs well for the health of the babies and their nursing mothers." She explained that hiring a baby sitter was an expensive venture where by both the baby and the mother suffered and also reduced her productivity at work. Statement said Mrs Tedam argued that those three extra months, which might be lost, could be recovered through working for extra one hour a day at the appropriate time when the nursing mother resumes duty. It said, Mrs Tedam indicated that she would lead a crusade to press for the change.

Mr Kofi Lucas, the National President of the Network said the role of the NGOs association was to monitor, coordinate and direct programmes of members to ensure integrity, transparency and accountability. "NETWORK is not only proactive and result-oriented but also recognizes the positive contributions of everyone towards nation building. NGOs worked for the benefit, interest and welfare of the society or communities in which they operated," the statement quoted Mr Lucas. 16 Sept. 08