Program Manager, Policy and Budget Advocacy at ARHR, Benjamin Oppong-Twumasi
The Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) has raised concerns over the government’s silence regarding the implementation of the free sanitary pad policy.
Speaking to GhanaWeb TV on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Benjamin Oppong-Twumasi, Program Manager for Policy and Budget Advocacy at ARHR, questioned why the government had not provided updates on how the policy would be implemented, despite its announcement in the 2025 budget.
“I would commend the government for introducing this initiative for our young girls. However, there is still no clear implementation plan for the policy. The government has only informed us about the amount allocated for this policy,” he said.
“I think the Trade Minister recently mentioned that the pads will be locally sourced and manufactured, but we still don’t know which agency or ministry will be responsible for the distribution of these free sanitary pads. We also don’t know how many pads will be given to each girl in school,” he added.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, announced that the government had allocated GH¢292.4 million to begin the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.
Presenting the 2025 Budget Statement and Fiscal Policy to Parliament, he explained that the initiative is part of the “Free Sanitary Pads” program, which also covers financial relief for first-year students in public tertiary institutions.
“We have allocated GH¢292.4 million to commence the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools,” he stated.
The distribution of free sanitary pads is a fulfillment of President John Dramani Mahama’s 2024 manifesto promise to support girls in basic and senior high schools.
The initiative aims to address menstrual hygiene challenges and reduce school absenteeism among female students.
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