Leave Laws
Last updated on August 2, 2026.
Paid Time Off (PTO) in Ghana
Vacation Leave Quota
15 days
Employees in Ghana are entitled to at least 15 fully paid working days of annual leave in any calendar year of continuous service. A newly hired employee qualifies for vacation days after completing 12 months of service.
What does not affect the annual leave?
The following leave days do not impact an employee’s entitlement to vacation leave:
- Public holidays
- Medically certified sick leave
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- An employee’s involvement in voluntary community service
- The fulfillment of civic responsibilities
- Granting special leave
Taking a vacation
Employees are entitled to divide their vacation days into 2 approximately equal parts.
All employees have the right to an uninterrupted period of vacation leave. However, in instances of urgent need, an employer may ask an employee to interrupt their vacation and come back to work. In that case, the employee keeps the right to the remaining vacation days and can take them at any time.
Carry Over
Requires agreement from both the employee and the employer.
Carrying forward unused vacation days from one year to the following one may be allowed only with mutual agreement between the employee and the employer.
If an employee begins their vacation near the end of a calendar year, it can extend into the next year.
No Waiving of Vacation Leave
Employees in Ghana can’t give up their vacation leave — any agreement to waive or skip it, even in exchange for extra pay, is legally not allowed.
Payment of Unused Vacation on Termination
Employer must pay.
When employment ends, an employee is entitled to prorated vacation days based on the length of service within the given calendar year. Additionally, the employee will retain all other entitlements and awards, including any compensation, in lieu of notice of termination.
Sick Leave in Ghana
No sick leave is required by law.
Ghana leave laws do not require sick leave. The Labor Act does not specifically address sick leave, so it generally varies according to the company’s policy, the employment contract, or collective agreements. While Ghana leave laws do not mandate a specific minimum or maximum quota of paid sick days for all employees, they guarantee the right to sick leave for illness under certain conditions.
Sick or medical leave is not included in an employee’s vacation leave calculation.
Still, workers who provide a medical certificate are allowed to take sick leave without deducting days from their PTO.
Maternity and Paternity Leave
Maternity Leave in Ghana
12 weeks
Pregnant female employees in Ghana are entitled to 12 weeks of fully paid maternity leave (3 months).
This leave may be extended by an additional two weeks (up to 14 weeks) in the event of:
- complications during pregnancy
- caesarean sections
- multiple births (two or more babies).
To qualify for maternity leave, an employee must provide a medical certificate from an official medical practitioner or midwife indicating her expected delivery date.
If a female employee’s medically certified illness is related to her childbirth, as determined by a medical practitioner, she is entitled to an extension of her maternity leave as prescribed by that medical practitioner.
After coming back from maternity leave, a female employee is entitled to 1 hour of leave during the workday to nurse her child until the child is 1 year old.
A female employee on maternity leave is entitled to receive her full salary and any other benefits she would normally be eligible for.
Payout
The employer pays an employee during her maternity leave. The salary of an employee is 100% of the regular earnings.
Paternity Leave in Ghana
No paternity leave required by law.
Ghana leave laws do not recognize paternity leave.
Parental Leave in Ghana
No parental leave is required by law.
Ghana leave laws do not recognize parental leave.
Bereavement Leave in Ghana
Not required by law.
Ghana leave laws do not mandate compulsory leave in the case of the death of an immediate family member. However, in practice, this leave is covered by company policy or institutional HR policies. Therefore, most employees in Ghana are given 3-5 days of paid leave for this unfortunate event.
An employee is entitled to paid bereavement leave in the event of the death of a close family member.
Jury Duty Leave in Ghana
Jury service is compulsory when an employee is summoned, but leave and whether it is paid is not specified in labor law. Employers are expected to cooperate. However, online data is limited; check official or offline legal materials for more information.
Payout
Jurors receive state allowances instead of standard wages from their employers.
Military Leave in Ghana
Military leave is not specified by law. There is no conscription; military service is voluntary.
Voting Leave in Ghana
Online data is unavailable; please consult official legal materials or offline sources for information.
Public Holidays in Ghana
A complete list of official holidays celebrated in Ghana:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year |
| January 7 | Constitution Day |
| March 6 | Independence Day |
| Movable (*) : Shawwal 1 | Eid al-Fitr (The end of Ramadan) |
| Movable: In spring - 2 days before Easter Sunday (**) | Good Friday |
| Movable: In spring - The day after Easter Sunday (**) | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Spring Day (aka May Day) |
| May 25 | Africa Unity Day |
| Movable (*): Dhu al-Hijjah 10 | Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) |
| July 1 | Republic Day |
| August 4 | Founders’ Day |
| September 21 | Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day |
| First Friday in December | Farmers’ Day |
| December 25 | Christmas |
| December 26 | Boxing Day |
(*) - Dates are movable every year according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
(**) - The dates of Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday vary each year according to the Christian Church calendar.
Sources
- Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/ghana
- Payroll and Benefits Guide Ghana, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/ghana
- Definitive Guide to Hiring in Ghana, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/Ghana
- Ghana’s Labour Act, 2003, https://www.ilo.org/static/english/inwork/cb-policy-guide/ghanalabouract2003section109.pdf
Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about the laws in various countries.
This material is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For current and accurate guidance, please consult legal counsel in your jurisdiction.
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