The Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) commends the Government of Ghana for allocating GH¢292.4 million in the 2025 National Annual Budget for the provision of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools. This commitment is a critical step toward addressing menstrual hygiene challenges and ensuring that girls, especially those from low-income households, do not miss school due to lack of access to sanitary products.
However, while the budget allocation signals progress, we are deeply concerned about the absence of a clear implementation and funding strategy to ensure the effective and sustainable execution of this policy. Without this strategy, the policy risks being ineffective, inequitable, or mismanaged.
Key Questions for Government Clarification
To promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the rollout of the policy, we call on the Government to urgently provide clarity on the following issues:
- Funding and Budget Justification
- How was the GH¢292.4 million budgeted for the policy determined?
- What is the source of this funding?
- Implementation and Coordination Mechanism
- Which ministry will be responsible for the implementation—Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, or Ministry of Health?
- What will the distribution mechanism look like? Will sanitary pads be distributed through schools, health facilities, or community-based structures?
- How will coordination among ministries and agencies be ensured to prevent duplication and inefficiencies?
- Procurement and Supply Chain Considerations
- Will the sanitary pads be locally produced or imported?
- How will the procurement process ensure cost-effectiveness and value for money?
- What measures will be put in place to prevent supply shortages and ensure timely distribution?
- Distribution Frequency and Monitoring
- How often will students receive the sanitary pads – monthly, per term, or annually?
- What accountability mechanisms will be instituted to prevent leakages, diversion, or corruption in the distribution process?
- How will the government track the impact of the policy to ensure that it meets its intended objectives?
Call to Action
As civil society organizations advocating for the reproductive health and rights of women and girls, we urge the Government to provide urgent answers to these critical questions. Transparency and accountability in the rollout of this policy are essential to ensuring that it reaches the intended beneficiaries and delivers a meaningful impact.
We call on the government to engage stakeholders, including civil society organizations, in the development of a robust implementation and funding strategy. This will ensure that the policy does not suffer policy evaporation but is a transformative intervention that empowers girls, promotes gender equity, and improves menstrual hygiene management in Ghana.
We look forward to the Government’s response and stand ready to collaborate in ensuring that this policy is effectively implemented for the benefit of all schoolgirls in Ghana.
For Media Enquiries, Please Contact:
- Benjamin Oppong-Twumasi, Programme Manager, Policy and Budget Advocacy on 0544475243
- Nana Oye Gyimah, Communications Officer on 0554042173
Download the Statement Here
