The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has promised to reintroduce the free sanitary pad distribution program for female students in both basic and Senior High Schools (SHS) if he is elected president.
Speaking at the launch of the NDC’s 2024 manifesto, the former president highlighted the need for comprehensive educational reform, adding that the free sanitary pads policy would help girls stay in school.
The initiative, which was initially introduced by the previous NDC government, was canceled by the current regime, with some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party describing it as a “pad loan”.
However, some teachers’ unions and civil organizations have lauded the initiative.
In its manifesto, the NDC stated that it will ensure the “improvement of [the] pupil-to-textbook ratio from 4:1 to 1:4, [as well as] the distribution of free uniforms, free exercise books, free sandals, free sanitary pads, and free laptops for teachers and students”.
Former President Mahama recounted some successes that his government achieved in the education sector, stating, “the achievement of Ghana’s all-time best BECE performance in 2015 and the overall best-performing WASSCE nation award for four consecutive years.”