The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has ordered a comprehensive audit of sanitary pads distributed under the government’s Free Sanitary Pad Initiative last year, following complaints about poor quality.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, the Minister revealed that concerns raised by the Consumer Protection Agency prompted the decision to assess the products supplied to schools across the country.

“I have asked a team of auditors to go around the schools and do an audit of the quality of some of the sanitary pads that were supplied, because I received concerns from the Consumer Protection Agency of Ghana as to some poor quality of some of the sanitary pads that were supplied last year,” he said.

Mr. Iddrisu stated that he is currently reviewing the assessment report and will advise the government on the appropriate course of action moving forward.

“I’m now evaluating the report of the assessment and I would advise government whether, how to deal with it into the future,” he added.

The Minister emphasised that companies awarded contracts under the initiative must adhere to minimum standards and deliver quality products.

“But essentially, we want any company that wins a bid to be mindful of standards, minimum standards, that they produce quality and they don’t produce things that can embarrass government, embarrass the user and embarrass the student,” he said.

He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring value for money and the well-being of students, warning that there would be zero tolerance for substandard supplies.

“So we are particular about the concerns that have been raised about the quality of the sanitary pads that are supplied and there will be zero tolerance for poor quality sanitary pads,” Mr. Iddrisu stressed.