Girls in some schools across the Talensi District are missing between three and five days of classes every month because of menstruation-related challenges, according to the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The revelation was made during a Menstrual Hygiene Day forum organised in Tongo by the Advocacy for Social Inclusion and Girls’ Education (ASIGE), where education stakeholders called for urgent action to address barriers affecting girls’ education and wellbeing.
Speaking at the event, the Talensi District Coordinator of Basic and Second Cycle Schools, Ms Comfort Minyila Atuama, said monitoring by the Directorate showed that many girls continue to lose valuable learning time due to inadequate access to sanitary products, poor sanitation facilities, and persistent menstrual stigma.
“We cannot talk about quality education if we accept that girls should lose valuable learning time because of menstruation,” she stated.
The programme, held under the theme “Together for a Period-Friendly World,” brought together schoolchildren, teachers, education officials, and community stakeholders to discuss menstrual hygiene management and ways to create supportive school environments.
As part of the initiative, ASIGE donated boxes of sanitary pads to eight selected schools in the district to help girls manage their menstrual health and remain in school.
Speaking on behalf of ASIGE Founder and Executive Director, Ms Dorcas Apoore, Scholar Ms Jennifer Anaribala Nsobila stressed that menstrual hygiene education must extend beyond girls to include boys, parents, and communities.
According to her, ignorance and misinformation about menstruation continue to affect many girls, while ridicule from peers often discourages them from participating confidently in school activities.
“When girls stain their dresses in school, their colleagues should support them instead of mocking or traumatising them. Menstruation is natural and should not make girls feel inferior,” she said.
She also identified poverty, the high cost of sanitary pads, inadequate toilet facilities, and limited access to water and sanitation services as major obstacles to proper menstrual hygiene management.
To address these challenges, Ms Atuama disclosed that the GES, with support from the District Assembly and development partners, is prioritising the construction of girl-friendly Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, including changing rooms, water points, soap, and disposal bins in schools.
The Upper East Regional Head of Inspectorate at GES, Ms Mollydean Zong Buntuya, urged parents to educate children about menstruation before adolescence and encouraged schools to foster supportive environments for girls.
She reminded girls that menstruation is a natural sign of growth and health and encouraged them to seek support whenever necessary.
The Upper East Regional Girls’ Education Officer, Ms Rita Abamah, also advised girls to report any form of harassment related to menstruation to teachers or parents, stressing the need to protect their rights and ensure uninterrupted access to education.
