In a bold move to boost local industry and promote sustainable menstrual health initiatives, President John Dramani Mahama has directed that all sanitary pads distributed under the Government’s Free Sanitary Pads Programme for schoolgirls be sourced exclusively from within Ghana.
Minister of Education, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, revealed this directive during a press briefing at the Presidency in Accra, highlighting the Government’s commitment to both empowering local businesses and enhancing educational access for girls.
The initiative is set to stimulate the establishment of sanitary pad manufacturing facilities across key regions, including the Northern, Middle Belt, Western, and Central areas of the country. This decentralization aims to create jobs and ensure steady production capacity while supporting the health needs of schoolgirls nationwide.
An innovative proposal put forward by the Minister for Interior, Mr. Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, suggests the potential use of prison labour to operate a sanitary pad production unit. This partnership could provide a cost-effective, socially responsible means of production while contributing to rehabilitation efforts.
Launched nationally on April 24, 2025, the Free Sanitary Pad Distribution Programme is a cornerstone of President Mahama’s pledge to promote gender equity in education. By addressing menstrual health barriers, the Government seeks to reduce absenteeism among adolescent girls and improve their academic performance.
This push for local production marks a dual victory—supporting Ghana’s industrial growth and reinforcing the Government’s broader agenda to foster inclusive, gender-responsive educational policies.
