The Upper East Regional Director of the Department of Gender, James Twene, has raised strong concerns about the challenges young girls face in schools due to menstruation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support systems to ensure girls do not miss out on education during their menstrual periods.
Speaking during an interview on A1 Radio, Mr. Twene pointed out that the practice of girls staying out of school during their periods, while boys continue with their education uninterrupted, amounts to a form of discrimination. He stressed the importance of addressing the social, cultural, and infrastructural barriers that contribute to this disparity.
“Why is it that boys will stay in school, and because of menstruation, the girl will stay out of school? We need to talk about it and see the challenges around it so that if the girl is in that period, she will not miss the education or that opportunity—because education is a right.”
According to him, misconceptions surrounding menstruation—such as beliefs that menstruating girls are impure or should be excluded from certain spaces—remain prevalent in some communities and religious settings. These false perceptions, he reiterated, hinder the full participation of girls in educational and social activities.
“People have this perception that when you are in that period, you are not pure, you are not supposed to do certain things. Even in some religious communities, you are not supposed to enter some sacred places. All these are misinformation that we need to work on.”
He commended the government’s initiative to provide sanitary pads to schoolgirls, describing it as a positive step toward improving menstrual hygiene management and reducing absenteeism.
“We are very happy the Government of Ghana initiated this laudable initiative—to provide sanitary pads for distribution to young girls in school.”
To ensure the success and sustainability of the sanitary pad distribution program, he called for the establishment of a reliable funding mechanism.
Mr. Twene also highlighted the critical need for proper sanitation infrastructure in schools, pointing out that many schools lack basic facilities such as water and private changing spaces, making it difficult for girls to manage their periods with dignity and comfort.
“In providing infrastructure for communities or the country, the government needs to make sure we provide these facilities. So, for instance, if you construct a school and there’s no water or sanitation facility, it’ll be very, very difficult for these young girls to change themselves with dignity during their periods.”
He acknowledged the contributions of organizations such as the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) and other NGOs that are playing a significant role in education, sensitization, and the distribution of sanitary products to girls.
“They are doing very well, and we need to commend them because they are complementing government efforts.”
Emphasizing that addressing menstrual health challenges requires a collective effort, he urged collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, the media, the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Education Service, and development partners.
“It’s a collective work. One institution cannot do it alone, so we need to come together—the media, Ghana Health Service, Education, NGOs, and development partners. We need to work together to address all these misconceptions and myths around menstruation so we can support our young girls and enhance their chances in education and development.”
More importantly, he called on parents to fulfill their responsibilities by supporting their daughters and ensuring they have the resources they need.
This conversation forms part of the Menstrual Health in a Changing Climate Campaign by the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), which seeks to highlight the intersection between climate change and menstrual health—drawing attention to how environmental factors further compound the struggles girls and women face in managing their periods safely and with dignity.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
