Mr Constant Tchona, Country Director, Plan International Ghana, says the government’s policy to distribute free sanitary pads to female students nationwide is a commitment to addressing menstrual poverty and gender inequality.
He said menstrual poverty remained a critical barrier to the well-being, education, and development of women and girls, particularly in rural areas.
MrTchona made the remark in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, commending government for its historic allocation of Gh₵292.4 million in the 2025 Financial Budget to distribute free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.
Poverty also limited their access to affordable menstrual hygiene products forcing many girls to resort to unsafe and unhygienic alternatives, such as rags or leaves, which posed serious health risks and contributed to school absenteeism.
The Country Director said some of the girls in some cases, ended up in compromising situations leading to abuse by some adults.
The government’s policy will not only alleviate the challenges but empower girls to manage their menstrual health with dignity and confidence.
“We recognise the profound impact this initiative will have on the lives of girls, especially
those in underserved rural communities. By ensuring access to free sanitary pads, the
government is addressing a key driver of inequality and creating an enabling environment for girls to stay in school, focus on their education, and achieve their full
potential.
“This initiative will significantly reduce school absenteeism, improve menstrual hygiene management, and contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty that disproportionately affects girls,” he said.
MrTchona noted that Plan International Ghana had long been at the forefront of efforts to address menstrual poverty and promote gender equality.
Through their interventions, projects and initiatives such as the SHE Leads, the Lead Fund, the “Be Smart Learn and Stay Protected” and Integrated Package for Sustainable Community Development, they have advocated for the removal of taxes on sanitary pads.
They have also distributed disposable sanitary pads to more than 100,000 vulnerable adolescent girls, initiated advocacy for the development of standards for the certification of reusable sanitary products and trained females to produce reusable sanitary products.
The Country Director said the nongovernmental organisation had also distributed reusable sanitary pads to more than 50,000 vulnerable adolescent girls and promoted menstrual health and hygiene education to reduce school absenteeism.
“We have also worked with boys and men as allies in advocacy campaigns on menstrual health and hygiene, supported visually impaired girls to lobby for sanitary facilities in their schools and introduced a Pad Bank initiative at the Wa Methodist School of the Blind and the Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University,” he said.
MrTchona stated that Plan International Ghana was encouraged by the government’s actions, which aligned with their advocacy and influencing efforts towards the implementation of zero-rated VAT on locally produced sanitary pads and granting of import duty waivers for raw materials used in local manufacturing.
Others were the condemnation of taxes on sanitary products by the Speaker of Parliament, and the introduction of a bill by Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu, a Member of Parliament for the Madina, to remove the 15 per cent VAT on menstrual hygiene products.
The Country Director, however, urged the government to ensure the effective implementation of the initiative, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas where the need was greatest.
He also called for sustained investment in menstrual health education and the provision of adequate sanitation facilities in schools to complement the initiative.
MrTchona said Plan International Ghana remained steadfast in its commitment to working with the government, communities, and other stakeholders to advance menstrual health and gender equality.
“Together, we can create a future where every girl in Ghana can thrive, free from the barriers of menstrual poverty,” he said.
GNA