Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government’s free sanitary pad initiative will rely exclusively on products manufactured in Ghana.
Speaking during the mid-year review of education sector policies and government programmes at the Presidency on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the Minister disclosed that President John Dramani Mahama has given firm directives against importing sanitary pads for the programme.
“Whilst I have some firm instructions from the President, and the Ghanaian people once again need to appreciate him for that, he’s instructed that no sanitary pad be procured from outside Ghana and that all of it be produced and manufactured locally,” Mr. Iddrisu said.
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He explained that government is encouraging local businesses to establish sanitary pad production facilities across the northern, middle belt, western, and central regions to support the programme. Priority will be given to local producers during procurement to ensure sustainability and job creation.
The Minister also revealed that the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, has proposed a collaboration with the Ghana Prisons Service to set up a sanitary pad production unit within the prison system. The initiative would leverage inmate labour, similar to models used in other countries.
The sanitary pad programme forms part of the Mahama administration’s broader commitment to improving menstrual hygiene and keeping girls in school by removing barriers to access.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
