President launches Free Sanitary Programme today
President John Dramani Mahama will today launch the Free Sanitary Programme to mark the beginning of the distribution of sanitary pads for free to over two million schoolgirls in public basic and secondary schools across the country.
The initiative is in fulfilment of a commitment made in the 2024 Manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to ensure that all schoolgirls have access to menstrual hygiene products.
The programme aims to improve menstrual health and hygiene, boost attendance and retention rates among female students, which will enhance academic performance and completion rates.
An amount of GH¢292.4 million was allocated in the 2024/2025 budget for the supply of sanitary pads to female students in public basic and secondary schools across the country.
Free Sanitary Programme
The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Apaak, said his outfit, together with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), had completed procurement processes, adding that all measures had been put in place to ensure the effective distribution of sanitary pads to all public schools in the country.
He said regional and district directors of education had been tasked to monitor and report on the distribution to the schools, urging the media to support the monitoring of the distribution.
He indicated that different companies had been given the opportunity to participate in the programme, adding that the programme was expected to contribute to national development and improve economic growth.
Dr Apaak said the event would be launched at the Salvation Cluster of Schools in Accra at 2 p.m. under the chairmanship of the Ga Mantse, King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.
He added that Regional Ministers and District Chief Executives will also hold similar events in their respective regions to pave the way for the distribution.
The Deputy Minister gave the details during a press briefing in Accra jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and the MoGCSP.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said the initiative was designed to address menstrual health challenges, bridge the gender gap in education and empower young girls.
She said the programme would enhance academic performance, increase the likelihood of girls completing their education and advancing to higher levels.
She further said the programmes would enhance the quality of education since addressing menstrual health challenges was key to bridging the gender gap in education and empowering young girls.
