The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) has welcomed the government’s National Free Sanitary Pads initiative, describing it as a critical step toward addressing menstrual health challenges that have long impeded girls’ education in Ghana.

However, the coalition is also calling for strong accountability measures and a clear roadmap to ensure the policy’s long-term sustainability.

The initiative, launched on April 24, 2025, by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, was themed “Improving Menstrual Health and Hygiene for Girls for Quality Education.”

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It aims to distribute free sanitary pads to schoolgirls, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

GNECC praised the intervention as a progressive and compassionate move that could significantly reduce school absenteeism among girls.

For years, many have struggled to stay in school during their menstrual periods due to lack of access to hygiene products, a situation that has affected their academic performance, confidence, and general well-being.

In some instances, girls have fallen victim to sexual exploitation, with reports of men offering to buy sanitary pads in exchange for sexual favours, resulting in unwanted pregnancies and disrupted futures.

But while applauding the initiative, the coalition is urging the government to establish robust monitoring systems to ensure the effective and transparent implementation of the programme.

GNECC cautioned that the initiative could be undermined if the sanitary pads are mismanaged, hoarded, or sold instead of freely distributed.

"It is crucial that the pads reach the girls who need them most and that the initiative does not fall prey to mismanagement or abuse, such as the unauthorized sale of pads meant to be distributed freely."

They further call for ongoing evaluation and accountability to ensure that the Free Sanitary Pads initiative achieves its intended impact-empowering every girl to stay in school and reach her full potential.