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Free Pads, Free Minds: A Bold Step Toward Ending Period Poverty and Empowering Girls in Ghana

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Opinion

On April 24, 2025, Ghana took a historic leap toward gender equity in education. The launch of the Free Sanitary Pad Distribution Programme by the government marks a watershed moment in the national fight against period poverty, and sends a clear signal: The education, dignity, and health of Ghana’s girls are not negotiable.

In a society where menstruation is often shrouded in stigma, and where a simple sanitary pad can determine whether a girl stays in school or drops out, this initiative is not just timely—it is revolutionary.

At FAWE Ghana, we recognize the profound significance of this intervention, particularly as it directly aligns with the objectives of our ongoing Sexual Health And Reproductive Education (SHARE) Project. SHARE, implemented in a consortium led by Right To Play in partnership with the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), and WaterAid, with technical support from FHI360, aims to promote comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, while addressing social, cultural, and economic barriers that hinder girls from reaching their full potential.

The Reality of Period Poverty in Ghana

Period poverty is not merely about access to sanitary products. It is about inequality—in education, in health, in opportunity. Research indicates that in Sub-Saharan Africa, only 12% of schools provide menstrual materials for free or for purchase, and just 11% have bins for menstrual waste in girls’ toilets. These deficiencies contribute to absenteeism and dropout rates among schoolgirls (UNICEF, 2024).

Further, the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, poor sanitation facilities in schools, and deeply entrenched social taboos exacerbate the challenges faced by girls during menstruation. These statistics highlight a critical national challenge: menstruation is silently sabotaging our educational outcomes.

And let us not forget the economics. In Ghana, a packet of sanitary pads can cost between GHS 20–40, a price inflated by the 20% import tax and 12.5% VAT, classifying pads as “luxury items” (Ghana Revenue Authority). For low-income families, this is an unaffordable recurring expense. When a mother must choose between feeding the household and buying pads for her daughter, education loses.

A Policy Win, but Not the Final Destination

The Free Sanitary Pad Distribution Programme provides relief for thousands of girls. It is a bold policy tool that not only improves school attendance and performance, but also safeguards mental well-being and restores dignity. However, its success will depend on sustainability, monitoring, and cross-sectoral coordination.

We must ensure that distribution is equitable, particularly reaching underserved rural and peri-urban areas where the need is greatest. We also advocate for complementary investments in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools. A pad without access to clean toilets and water is an incomplete solution.

As we implement this programme, there must be strong community sensitization and school-based education. This is where the SHARE Project plays a strategic role. Over the past three years, SHARE has empowered over 50,000 adolescents, parents and caregivers across four districts in the Upper East Region, with age-appropriate, rights-based sexual and reproductive health education. It fosters safe spaces, builds self-esteem, and ensures that no girl is left behind due to stigma, misinformation, or fear.

Through SHARE, we’ve seen real change:

  • A 40% reduction in absenteeism in pilot districts
  • Increased male allyship in menstrual health advocacy
  • Parents becoming champions for their daughters’ dignity

Policy Recommendations: Toward Holistic Menstrual Justice

While this free pads policy is commendable, we must confront the elephant in the room: the continued taxation of sanitary pads. If we truly believe menstrual products are essential, we cannot treat them like champagne and cosmetics. FAWE Ghana joins the growing chorus calling for the total removal of taxes on sanitary pads, following the examples of Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa, who have scrapped such taxes in pursuit of menstrual equity.

In a positive development, the Ghanaian government announced in the 2024 Budget Statement the removal of VAT on locally produced sanitary pads and import duty waivers for raw materials used in their production (The Ghana Report, 2023). However, imported sanitary products still attract significant taxes, making them less accessible to many girls and women.

Additionally, the government must explore local production incentives to encourage sustainable manufacturing and reduce dependency on imports. This will not only reduce costs but create jobs, empower women entrepreneurs, and keep the pad supply chain resilient.

We also recommend that menstrual health be mainstreamed in national curricula, teacher training, and health policies. Menstruation is not a girl’s issue—it is a societal one. And addressing it requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.

Collective Action: The Way Forward

As we celebrate this landmark policy, let us remember that transformational change does not rest on policy alone. It takes partnerships. It takes persistence. And above all, it takes a people-powered movement rooted in empathy and equity.

At FAWE Ghana, we stand ready—with SHARE and beyond—to support government, civil society, parents, and communities in creating an environment where no girl skips school because of her period.

The dream of a gender-equal Ghana will not be achieved in a day. But with every pad distributed, every myth busted, and every barrier broken, we move a step closer. Let us keep our foot on the pedal and our eyes on the future.

Because when we protect her dignity, we preserve her future.
And when we invest in her health, we invest in Ghana’s development.

References

 

Written By

Naomi Darko

Communication and Advocacy Officer

FAWE Ghana

Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article do not represent that of The Chronicle

Dangote Visits Tinubu, Hails President’s Reform In Oil Sector

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Dangote and Tinubu

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, paid a visit to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja over the weekend, and lauded him for what he described as assembling a “capable leadership team” at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

During the visit, Dangote highlighted the appointments of Bashir Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer and Ahmadu Kida as Non-Executive Chairman.

A statement by Dangote’s media team said he visited the President to commend him for putting together such a formidable and professionally competent team that is eminently qualified to take the NNPCL to a greater height.

According to Dangote, the new management team brings a wealth of technical expertise, and all have the managerial experience that is essential for revitalising Nigeria’s most strategic public enterprise.

The new team, according to Dangote, under the leadership of Ojulari, and Kida, reflects the president’s strategic intent to drive reform and innovation across the energy sector.

“We are confident that this team will address systemic challenges, align with the President’s vision of a $1 trillion economy, and reposition NNPC Limited for operational excellence and long-term sustainability,” Dangote was quoted as saying.

Reacting to questions from the select media over the weekend on his statement that he is still fighting for the survival of his $20 billion refinery and that he is determined to fight the cabals in the oil sector to a standstill.

Dangote said his statement was not in any way connected to the new leadership of the NNPC, noting that the new leadership in the NNPCL, had been so far supportive in terms of meeting the company’s needs.

He revealed that the cabals he was referring to were some major oil marketers and traders who were bent on frustrating the efforts of President Tinubu to revamp the nation’s economy.

He noted that the recent activities and structural reforms introduced by NNPC Limited serve as strong indicators of the organisation’s renewed focus on transparency, efficiency, and accountability.

“The calibre of individuals at the helm, and their deliberate, reform-driven agenda, demonstrate a commitment to fostering a culture of performance and professionalism,” he added.

Credit: channelstv.com

Court Bars Nnamdi Kanu’s Sister-In-Law From Illegal Livestream

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Nnamdi Kanu in court

A mild drama ensued on Tuesday at the resumption of the trial of the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, when the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, barred Kanu’s sister-in-law for three sittings.

The woman, identified as Favour Kanu, was accused of recording court proceedings during a previous sitting and allegedly publishing restricted content online.

Justice Omotosho recounted how he had previously warned Kanu and refrained from citing her for contempt.

Counsel for the IPOB leader, Kanu Agabi, appealed to the judge for forgiveness on her behalf, quoting The Bible and admitting that she owed the court an apology.

Favour, when called upon, claimed ignorance of the court still being in session and stated that she had stopped recording immediately after the warning.

“I didn’t know the court was seated. The moment you cautioned me, I stopped because it was a livestream,” she added.

But the judge, while listening to both explanations, temporarily excused Favour from attending the next three sittings.

He also reiterated the need for order and respect for the court’s processes, stating that things must be done properly and justice would be done.

Credit: channelstv.com

FEC Approves ‘Nigeria First’ Policy To Support Local Industry

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FEC meeting

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a Nigeria First economic policy targeted at prioritising the use of locally manufactured goods and services in all government procurements.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said this on Monday after the FEC meeting in Abuja.

Mohammed said the policy would soon be backed by an executive order.

“This policy means Nigeria comes first in all procurement processes; no foreign goods or devices that are already being produced locally will be procured without a clear and justified reason,” the minister said while briefing correspondents at the State House.

“Now this seeks to foster a new business culture that will be bold, confident, but also very, very Nigerian. It aims at making the government invest in our people and our industries by changing how the government spends money, how we procure, and how we also build our economy,” the minister added.

“Going forward, Nigerian industry will take precedence in all procurement processes. Where local supply falls short, contracts will be structured to build capacity domestically. Contractors will no longer serve as intermediaries sourcing foreign goods where local factories die.”

According to him, the policy aligns with President Tinubu’s objective of driving industrialisation, insulating the economy from global disruptions, and boosting local production in the country.

FEC directed the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to revise and enforce fresh guidelines to favour local manufacturers and service providers.

He said, “The BPP has been immediately directed to revise and enforce procurement guidelines to prioritize locally made goods and homegrown solutions. It has also been directed to create what is called a local content compliance framework for all government procurements.”

Credit: channelstv.com

Insecurity: Senate moves to convene national summit

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Senate

Following the endless insecurity rocking states across the country, the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday adopted a motion to convoke a two-day security summit to proffer solution to the challenges.

Sponsor of the motion, Senator Jimoh Folorunsho Ibrahim, representing Ondo South Senatorial District in the motion attributed insecurity to the global security challenges involving Russia and Ukraine.

According to him, the insecurity has become daunting due to new order in some of the advanced countries, citing the growing impact of the tariff war in America and the rising emphasis on balance of power by various countries.

He said: “The recent events in our region have led to feelings of discomfort and insecurity, which has placed the past accomplishments of our security forces at risk even though our military and its partners are striving to address these challenges.

“They do not have solutions to the global economic conflict or the effects of new American tariffs and tensions with China.

“As a result, insecurity across Nigeria has become pervasive, impacting both urban and rural areas, where banditry, ransom kidnappings and terrorism are pressing issues across the country as well as other violent crimes.”

In his contribution, Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District lamented that servicemen are being lost to bandits’ attacks each day across the country, noting that the country must rise to the occasion of taming the tide.

Credit: channelstv.com

Germany’s Merz wins vote for chancellor after surviving historic defeat

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Conservative leader Friedrich Merz

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz has won a parliament vote to become Germany’s next chancellor at the second attempt.

Merz had initially fallen six votes short of the absolute majority he needed on Tuesday morning – a significant blow to his prestige and an unprecedented failure in post-war German history.

As it was a secret ballot in the 630-seat Bundestag, there was no indication who had refused to back him – whether MPs from his centre-left coalition partner or his own conservatives.

After hours of uncertainty in the Bundestag, the parties and the president of the Bundestag agreed to hold a second vote, which Merz then won with 325 votes, a majority of nine.

His coalition with the Social Democrats should have had enough seats in parliament from the start, with 328 MPs in total, but it appears 18 of them dissented during the first vote.

No chancellor candidate has lost a Bundestag vote in the 76 years since democracy was restored in Germany in 1949, and there was a prevailing mood of confusion in parliament in the hours after the vote.

Under Germany’s constitution, there is no limit to how many votes can be held but in practice another defeat for Merz would have meant a headache for his Christian Democrats, its sister party the Christian Social Union and their partner the Social Democrats.

Bundestag President Julia Klöckner was initially said to be planning a second vote on Wednesday, but Christian Democrat General Secretary Carsten Linnemann said it was important to press ahead.

Credit: bbc.com

Russia accuses Ukraine of drone attack on Moscow days before WW2 parade

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Russia accuses Ukraine of drone attack

Russia says Ukraine launched a drone attack on Moscow – days before the start of a ceasefire, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin to coincide with a World War Two parade.

Moscow’s four major airports shut for a few hours on Tuesday amid the barrage, authorities said. There were no casualties and Ukraine has not commented.

Moscow is due to hold a parade on 9 May to mark the victory of the Soviet Union and allies over Nazi Germany. This year is the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2 and will see world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, in Russia for the event.

Putin has called for a three-day ceasefire from 8 May – something Ukraine has not committed to. Kyiv wants a longer truce.

“Fire will be halted, but should the Kyiv regime fail to do the same and should it continue trying to strike our positions and facilities, then an appropriate response will be given immediately,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Russia’s ceasefire plans as a “theatrical play”. Instead, he has been pushing for a ceasefire of at least 30 days where there would be a halt to missile and drone strikes on civilian targets.

He has also reportedly said his country cannot guarantee the safety of anyone travelling to Moscow this week.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry went a step further, calling on “all foreign states to refrain from the participation of their military personnel in the parade in Moscow”.

The Kremlin had previously announced a 30-hour truce with Ukraine over Easter, where both sides reported a decrease in fighting, but accused each other of hundreds of violations.

Credit: bbc.com

Israel strikes Yemen’s main airport in Sanaa

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Smoke rises over the city of Sanaa on 6 May following an Israeli air strike

The Israeli military has said it “fully disabled” Yemen’s main airport in the capital Sanaa, which is controlled by the Houthis. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said “flight runways, aircraft and infrastructure at the airport” were struck.

The attack comes two days after the Iran-backed Houthis fired a missile that landed near Israel’s main airport, forcing it to close briefly. On Monday Israel responded by striking the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah.

Israel has launched several rounds of strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, including the targeting of a power plant and ports in January. It previously attacked Sanaa airport in December.

Tuesday’s strikes targeted three civilian planes, the departures hall, the runway and a military air base, multiple airport sources told the Reuters news agency. The IDF said the airport was being used by the Houthis to “transfer weapons and operatives”.

The IDF said it also struck power stations in Sanaa, which it described as “significant electricity supply infrastructure” for the Houthis, as well as the al-Imran cement factory in the north of Sanaa.

Monday’s attack on Hudaydah also included strikes on a different cement factory.

The port is the second-largest in the Red Sea after Aden, and is the entry point for about 80% of Yemen’s food imports.

At least four people were killed and 35 others were wounded during Monday’s attack, the Houthis said.

The group blamed the US and Israel jointly for the attack, but a US defence official told the AFP news agency that their forces did not participate.

Credit: bbc.com

UK, India agree trade deal after three years of talks

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UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal

The UK and India have agreed a trade deal that will make it easier for UK firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India, and cut taxes on India’s clothing and footwear exports.

The deal comes after three years of on-off negotiations. The UK government said it did not include any change in immigration policy, including towards Indian students studying in the UK.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described it as a “landmark deal” which would boost growth and “deliver for British people and business”.

Last year trade between the UK and India totalled £41bn and was already forecast to grow, but the government said the deal would boost that trade by an additional £25.5bn a year by 2040.

India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, described the deal as an historic milestone that was “ambitious and mutually beneficial”.

The pact would help “catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies”, Mr Modi said in a post on social media platform X.

Once it comes into force, which could take up to a year, UK consumers are likely to benefit from the reduction in tariffs on goods coming into the country from India, the Department for Business said.

The government also emphasised the benefit to economic growth and job creation from UK firms expanding exports to India.

The British government said the deal was the “biggest and most economically significant” bilateral trade agreement the UK had signed since leaving the European Union in 2020.

Credit: bbc.com

Health Benefits of Bananas

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Bananas

What Are Bananas?

Bananas grow from a tropical flowering plant. They’re soft, sweet, and a convenient source of some important nutrients.

They have origins in Southeast Asia. People have grown bananas since ancient times, and their health benefits have been promoted for more than a century.

Today, bananas are grown in more than 150 countries in tropical climates, including Africa, South and Central America, China, and India. There are hundreds of types. The dessert banana (Cavendish) is the most popular variety in North America and Europe.

Bananas are versatile as well as tasty. You can eat them raw, mixed into your favorite smoothie, or in a peanut butter-banana sandwich, banana bread, or muffins. Bananas:

  • Can be found at your grocery store all year long
  • Are easily stored
  • Travel well in their peel

Is a banana a fruit? 

A banana is considered a fruit. Bananas grow in a cluster at the top of a tropical plant.

Banana Benefits

Bananas are rich in potassium and other important minerals and vitamins that help your body perform critical functions. Their potential benefits include:

Heart health

Bananas are best known for containing potassium, which is a big player in heart health. This vital mineral and electrolyte carries a small electrical charge, causing nerve cells to send out signals for your heart to beat regularly and muscles to contract. Foods with potassium help protect against hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and high blood pressure.

A medium banana gives you about 450 milligrams, which is about 10% of what you need every day. Potassium-rich foods also help you get rid of more sodium when you pee and relax the walls of your blood vessels, both of which help lower your blood pressure.

What’s more, potassium:

  • May lower your risk of stroke
  • Can help keep your bones healthy as you age
  • May help your muscles work better
  • Can help prevent kidney stones

If you have kidney problems, too much potassium isn’t good for you. Check with your doctor to see how much you should have.

Digestive health

Despite their sugar content, bananas have a low glycemic index (GI) value of 51. (Glycemic index is a measure of how fast a food causes your blood sugar to rise.) Their fiber – which helps with digestion – is the reason for this. Bananas contain a type of fiber called pectin, which can play a part in controlling how quickly you digest carbohydrates.

Bananas may be good for your tummy, too. They have probiotics, which are the good bacteria found in your gut, and prebiotics, carbs that feed these good bacteria.

There’s also evidence that probiotics can help with the annoying diarrhea people get after taking some antibiotics.

Probiotics may also help:

  • Improve yeast and urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Treat some infections in your gut
  • Ease irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Lessen lactose intolerance
  • Ease some allergy symptoms

Probiotics may even help make colds and the flu less severe.

Bananas contain fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are unique fructose-filled carbohydrates that you don’t fully digest. These FOS are involved in a process that helps maintain the balance of good bacteria in your lower intestine.

Green, or unripe, bananas are a good source of resistant starch, which is a type of carbohydrate that isn’t digested in your small intestine. Instead, it ferments in your large intestine and feeds good bacteria in your gut. Resistant starch can make you feel fuller, which helps with weight loss. It’s also good for dealing with constipation. Resistant starch can also lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of colon cancer. Because most people don’t like to peel and eat a green banana – they’re hard to chew – the unripe fruit is being used in flour and other food products.

 

Weight control

Eating low-GI foods may promote weight loss. Fiber, like that found in bananas, can also help you control your weight.

It’s no secret that the right amount of fiber in your diet is good for you. An average-size ripe banana gives you 3 grams of it. That’s about 10% of what you need each day. Most of the fiber in bananas is what’s called soluble fiber. It can help keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check and help ease inflammation.

In general, foods that are high in fiber make you feel full without extra calories. That also makes them a good choice if you want to shed a few pounds.

Faster workout recovery

Research suggests bananas can also help you bounce back from strenuous workouts. But we need more studies to confirm this.

Cancer prevention

One study found that children who ate bananas and oranges regularly, and drank orange juice, had a lower risk of childhood leukemia. Various compounds in bananas have shown promise against breast, cervical, colorectal, esophageal, liver, oral, prostate, and skin cancers. But more research is needed.

Memory and mood help

Bananas contain tryptophan, which is a beneficial amino acid. In your body, it gets converted to serotonin, which boosts mood. Many other substances in bananas are known to fight cognitive decline, which can cause memory loss. Research continues on the best way to use those compounds for brain health.

Credit: webmd

 

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