The Women’s Wing of the National Democratic Congress in the Upper East Region has given the Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Today Foundation, Miss Rita Etornam Sey, a seven-day ultimatum to apologise for her “uncultured comments” regarding women and girls in the five regions of the north.
In a statement signed by the women organizer of the party, Fawzia Abagnabama Yakubu, the party indicated that Madam Sey claimed that some northern girls usually used clay as sanitary pads.
The claims by the CEO, according to the organiser, were not only false but affront to the dignity of Northern girls. Madam Yakubu has thus given Madam Sey, 7 days to apologise or provide evidence to back her claims.
Portions of the statement read, “We are stating unequivocally that it’s a palpable lie, and not even in the ancient days did girls of northern Ghana ever use clay as a substitute for sanitary pads. In what form is this clay, and how will that clay absorb their flow (blood)? How will that clay be placed on underwear? How thick or thin is that clay? Specifically, which part of northern Ghana, region, and community?”
Below is the full statement
“PRESS RELEASE NORTHERN GIRLS USE CLAY AS SANITARY PADS SUBSTITUTE
Our attention has been drawn to a viral video purported to be an interview with Ms. Etonam Sey, founder of the Inspire Today Foundation, on some TV networks in Ghana, among them 3FM and GTV, claiming some Northern girls use clay as sanitary pads.
We are stating unequivocally that it’s a palpable lie, and not even in the ancient days did girls in northern Ghana ever use clay as a substitute for sanitary pads.
If we may ask;
- In what form is this clay, and how will that clay absorb its flow (blood)?
- How will that clay be placed onto underwear?
- How thick or thin is that clay?
- Specifically, which part of northern Ghana, region, and community?
- We need to know these girls since they pose serious health concerns.
As much as the girls of the school you visited appreciate your kind gestures and efforts to aid and improve their menstrual hygiene, we won’t take such wicked falsehoods in the name of advocacy to help others.
Such wicked falsehood is an affront to the dignity of Northern girls. Hence, we demand proof of such claims or an unqualified apology via the same platforms and means within 7 days of her peddling such a falsehood. Anything short of the aforementioned demands, we shall advise ourselves accordingly.
WORLD INTERNATIONAL MENSTRUAL DAY
As the world also prepares to observe World Menstrual Day, we will want to use this opportunity to call on the government to either reconsider the current tax rate on sanitary pads or use the Tax Exemption Law to exempt taxes on sanitary pads to make them affordable.
The government should also consider adding monthly quota sanitary pads to our FSHS girls’ beneficiaries to help them peacefully go through their natural cycle without hindrance to class attendance.
We will also want to appeal to producers and importers of sanitary pads to consider bringing or producing affordable but quality sanitary pads, specifically targeting our students and pupils, to enable them to have easy access to such pads now.
To all reproductive-oriented CSOs and NGOs, we say ayekoo, and let’s push further to demystify menstruation.
Signed
FAWZIA ABAGNABAMA YAKUBU
(NDC UER WOMEN ORGANISER)”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
