Vice-President donates sanitary pads to 17 schools in VR
The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, on World Menstrual Hygiene Day, donated more than 1,000 boxes of sanitary pads to girls in selected senior high schools (SHS) in the Volta Region.
The ceremony took place at the St Catherine SHS at Agbakope, near Sogakope, in the South Tongu District.
The items were presented on behalf of the Vice-President by the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, to the Headmistress of the school, Rev. Sister Genevieve Afordofe, last Thursday.
In a speech read on her behalf, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the nationwide Free Sanitary Pad distribution was meant to combat period poverty, reduce school absenteeism and improve menstrual hygiene for about two million girls from Primary 5 through SHS.
She said the beneficiary institutions also included special and inclusive schools, Islamic basic schools, a female correctional facility, and a psychiatric health facility to promote their dignity, better health and continued education.
“The government has demonstrated a strong commitment to menstrual health by distributing over six million sanitary pads to girls in senior high schools in 2025 and allocating GH¢294.4 million in the 2026 budget to sustain free nationwide distribution,” she added.
The Vice-President said the initiative aimed to eliminate financial barriers, reduce period poverty and ensure girls remained healthy and confident in school.
She said the distribution would benefit 1,000 girls across 17 schools and institutions, with continued collaboration among government agencies and partners to ensure transparency, effective monitoring and public awareness.
“Our free Sanitary Pad Distribution policy directly tackles menstrual poverty’s impacts on attendance, health and confidence, especially for disadvantaged and special-needs girls,” the Vice-President added.
Relief for girls
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, gave an assurance that the Volta Regional Coordinating Council would collaborate fully with the Vice-President’s office, ministries, agencies and the municipal and district assemblies for efficient, transparent delivery and monitoring of the programme.
He told the girls their education and aspirations should not pause due to menstruation.
Mr Gunu, therefore, entreated them to learn diligently towards a bright future.
Rev. Sister Afordofe expressed gratitude to the Vice-President and the regional minister for the gesture, describing it as a huge relief to the girls.
She said some of the girls were so poor they used toilet rolls and other materials in the past, in place of sanitary pads when menstruating.
