On April 24, 2025, the Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, officially launched the National Free Sanitary Pads initiative for girls in schools under the theme: “Improving Menstrual Health and Hygiene for Girls for Quality Education.”
This initiative is both timely and commendable, addressing a critical barrier that has long hindered girls’ access to education in Ghana.
For many girls—especially those in rural areas—the lack of access to sanitary pads has resulted in missed school days, negatively impacting their academic performance and overall well-being.
In some distressing cases, girls have been exploited, with reports of men offering to buy sanitary pads in exchange for sexual favors, leading to unwanted pregnancies and further disrupting their education.
The introduction of free sanitary pads in schools is a much-needed intervention that promises to safeguard girls’ health, dignity, and right to education.
However, as we celebrate this important milestone, GNECC urges that robust monitoring mechanisms be put in place to ensure the effective and transparent implementation of the policy.
It is crucial that the pads reach the girls who need them most and that the initiative does not fall prey to mismanagement or abuse, such as the unauthorized sale of pads meant to be distributed freely.
We must also ask: Is this policy sustainable in the long term? Will the girls who are most vulnerable truly benefit from it?
GNECC commends the government for this progressive step and calls for ongoing evaluation and accountability to ensure that the Free Sanitary Pads initiative achieves its intended impact—empowering every girl to stay in school and reach her full potential.