More than 500 schoolgirls in the Talensi District have received sanitary towels and menstrual hygiene education through the Purple Peach Project, a partnership between the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited.
The outreach event, held at the Datoko Primary and Junior High School, brought together traditional leaders, education authorities, mining officials, teachers, health workers, and students, all united in the goal of promoting menstrual health, dignity, and uninterrupted education for girls.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, said the initiative is part of the Chamber’s wider commitment to empower young girls, particularly in mining communities, by removing barriers to their education.
“The Purple Peach Project is more than just distributing sanitary towels,” Dr. Ashigbey said. “It is about ensuring that no girl is left behind because of a natural biological process. It is about giving girls the confidence to pursue their education without interruption, and the dignity to dream without limitation.”
He emphasized that mining companies must remain people-centered, highlighting investments made over the years through the Chamber’s Tertiary Education Fund, including support for over 170 students, research grants, digital learning tools, and a new USD 1.25 million AI robotics lab at the University of Mines and Technology.
Dr. Ashigbey praised Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited for its collaboration, noting that responsible mining extends beyond revenue and job creation to improving lives and expanding opportunities.
Vice President of Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd, Qi Xuanya, said the company was proud to contribute to the six-month sanitary pad support for girls in its project area.
“This initiative aims to ensure that every girl has the resources she needs to manage her period with confidence and dignity,” he said. “Today, we gather not only to discuss menstrual hygiene but also to empower and inspire our future leaders. Education is your greatest tool.”
Mr. Xuanya encouraged the girls to remain focused on their studies, assuring them that Cardinal Namdini will continue supporting community development and female empowerment.
Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber of Mines, Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, noted that the Purple Peach Initiative has evolved into a national movement reaching hundreds of schools.
“For nearly a decade, our goal has remained the same: to ensure that girls do not miss school because they lack sanitary products,” he said. “Every pad distributed is a step toward equality. Every girl empowered is a victory for the community.”
He emphasised the Chamber’s collaboration with the Ladies Lead Foundation, which has helped deliver menstrual health education and self-esteem training across multiple regions.
This year, the Chamber has committed to providing sanitary towels to 500 schools nationwide. Talensi District Director of Education, Mrs. Christiana Ayinezoya Azure, described the program as a transformative opportunity for girls and the district’s educational system.
“Proper menstrual hygiene contributes to building our female students holistically,” she said. “This initiative is not just about hygiene; it is about unlocking the buried potential within each student and eliminating the taboos around menstruation.”
She urged parents and community leaders to support girls’ education and help reduce school absenteeism and dropout rates, especially those related to menstruation and illegal small-scale mining.
Mrs. Azure encouraged students to embrace the training offered and use the sanitary pads to improve their confidence and well-being.
The Purple Peach event ended with a call for stronger community collaboration to sustain menstrual hygiene support, promote gender equality, to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality and deepen the social contributions of the mining sector.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Datoko
