A senior representative of the Nordiq Hygiene Care Industry, Cosmos Bortier, has warned that menstrual poverty in Ghana is more severe than many people realise, with thousands of schoolgirls missing class every month because they cannot afford sanitary pads.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Mr Bortier said the cost of sanitary pads continues to push vulnerable girls into absenteeism and risky behaviour. “A study shows that 27% of school-going adolescent girls in parts of Ghana miss between 1 and 7 days of school each month simply because they cannot afford sanitary pads,” he stated.

He noted that for low-income families, purchasing pads can consume up to 10% of the minimum wage, forcing parents to choose between buying food and pads. When that happens, he said, “You know what the obvious choice would be. They are really struggling.”

Mr Bortier added that many girls resort to unsafe alternatives such as newspapers and old rags, which expose them to infections and serious health complications.

Even more disturbing, he cited findings from Plan International indicating that 83% of adolescent girls in the Upper West region have engaged in transactional sex to buy sanitary pads.

“That’s the scale of the problem we are trying to help fix,” he emphasised.

His comments come as Nordiq Hygiene Care steps up efforts to expand local sanitary pad production, create jobs for women, and promote menstrual equity across the country.

Advocates say addressing menstrual poverty is critical to improving girls’ education outcomes, reducing teenage exploitation, and ensuring dignity for all Ghanaian girls — especially those in low-income communities.