Accra, July 18, GNA - Businesses operating in Ghana were on Wednesday urged to consider offering, where necessary, two weeks paid paternity leave to men whose spouses give birth. Organizations have also been advised not to dismiss a woman because of absence from work as a result of pregnancy and not to demand pregnant or nursing mothers of babies less than eight months old to work overtime.

Mr. Johnson Ben Oduro, Manager for Improving Business Practice (IBP), a sub-component of a project by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) aimed at supporting private sector development, made the statement at the 514th monthly meeting of the Accra Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr. Oduro was speaking on the theme: "Corporate Social Responsibility." He also introduced members of the Chamber to the Ghana Business Code (GBC) which is a set of norms developed by the Business Associations in Ghana to guide the conduct of business operations based on the United Nations Global Compact model. The Code outlines acceptable standards with regard to human rights, labour and environmental issues and anti-corruption in businesses. It catalogues 10 main principles that touch on the core of business practices, including the elimination of corruption in business transactions.

Mr Oduro said the GBC advised businesses not to offer or accept gifts beyond the cumulative value of GH cedis 150 per person in any 12-month period and challenged people who accepted gifts of such nature in relation to their work to explicitly record these in their books and name the recipients.

He explained that such measures as spelt out in the GBC were aimed at reducing all forms of corruption including extortion and bribery. Mr Oduro further explained that the Code was not a binding law but a voluntary one which, when followed was expected to create trust between enterprises, customers, suppliers and the Ghanaian society at large. He called on business organizations to endeavour to reduce human rights abuses in their respective workplaces urging them to avoid sexual harassment, child labour and forced labour as well as to promote initiatives that were environmentally responsible. Mr Oduro noted that the Code could be a branding opportunity for foreign investors and increase employee motivation. "The GBC is the core principle about creating wealth and sharing," he said. 18 July 07