Plan International Ghana Applauds Government’s GH₵292.4m Sanitary Pad Initiative to End Menstrual Poverty
Plan International Ghana has lauded the Government of Ghana for its commitment to end menstrual poverty through the allocation of GH₵292.4 million in the 2025 financial budget to distribute free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.
The initiative, which delivers on President John Dramani Mahama’s 2024 manifesto promise, represents a significant step forward in promoting menstrual health and gender equality across the country, according to the organisation.
In a statement signed by its Country Director, Constant Tchona, and shared with the Ghanaian Times on Thursday, Plan International Ghana described menstrual poverty as a critical barrier to the well-being, education, and development of women and girls, especially in rural areas.
“Limited access to affordable menstrual hygiene products forces many girls to resort to unsafe alternatives like rags or leaves, posing serious health risks and contributing to school absenteeism. In some cases, this leads to abuse by adults,” the statement said.
It explained that government’s commitment to free sanitary pads would ease these challenges and empower girls to manage their menstrual health with dignity and confidence.
“This initiative will significantly reduce school absenteeism, improve menstrual hygiene management, and help break the cycle of poverty that disproportionately affects girls.”
The statement said Plan International Ghana has long addressed menstrual poverty and gender inequality through projects such as SHE Leads, the Lead Fund, Be Smart Learn and Stay Protected, and IPADEV.
The organisation said it has distributed disposable pads to over 100,000 vulnerable girls, trained women to produce reusable products, and shared over 50,000 reusable pads. It has also provided menstrual hygiene education and engaged boys and men as allies in advocacy campaigns.
“We’ve supported visually impaired girls to lobby for facilities in their schools and introduced a Pad Bank at Wa Methodist School of the Blind and Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University,” it added.
The organisation also noted its sensitisation and advocacy campaigns to tackle stigma, the construction of over 100 girl-friendly latrines in schools, and the provision of mechanised and hand pump water systems to support hygiene.
It highlighted the role of its Alumni Network, which initiated a ‘No Pad Tax Campaign’, gathered over 1,000 petition signatures to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and organised dialogues to push for policy reforms to make menstrual products more accessible.
It’s efforts, it indicated align with national actions like the zero-rated VAT on locally produced pads, import duty waivers on raw materials, and condemnation of sanitary taxes by Speaker of Parliament Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin.
“As free pad distribution is in the offing, we urge the government to ensure effective implementation, especially in rural areas where the need is greatest,” the statement stated.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to work with government, communities, and partners to promote menstrual health and gender equality.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
