More than two million girls in basic and senior high schools across Ghana are expected to benefit from the government's free sanitary pad policy, which will be officially launched tomorrow, Thursday, 24 April, in Accra.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Naa Agnes Momo Lartey, confirmed the government's readiness to roll out the initiative, fulfilling a key promise made by President John Mahama under the National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s 2024 manifesto.

“The agenda for this press conference is to inform the press and the general public that the promise of President John Mahama to provide free sanitary pads to schools will be launched tomorrow,” she stated.

The policy, according to the Minister, is part of a broader strategy to promote menstrual health and hygiene for adolescent girls, and forms part of the President’s 120-Day Social Contract with the people of Ghana. She explained that the initiative is aimed at improving school attendance, reducing absenteeism among girls, and enhancing academic performance.

“The government in the 2025 budget provided GH₵292.4 million for the supply and distribution of sanitary pads to female students in basic and secondary schools across the country,” Dr Lartey said.

She added, “This project will significantly reduce absenteeism and improve retention. It is also to promote the quality of education, address menstrual health challenges, and help bridge the gender gap in education.”

The policy is expected to not only support educational access but also contribute to broader national goals. “Educated girls are more likely to contribute positively to economic growth, social development and poverty reduction in Ghana,” she noted.

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Apaak, also addressed the press, providing further details on the scale of the project. “It is our estimation that slightly above two million girls, both in basic and secondary schools, are expected to benefit,” he said.

He added that the procurement process had been completed, and that a wide range of companies were involved in the distribution effort.

“From those who have been monitoring the media and reading the papers, there were several launches that we advertised, so it is a mix of companies from different backgrounds that have been given the opportunity to participate in this very important national exercise,” he explained.