Obaahemaa Akosua Asieduwaa of Anyimadukrom has issued a heartfelt appeal to parents, urging them to prioritize the menstrual health needs of their daughters in order to prevent them from seeking help from potentially dangerous sources.
Speaking at an event to mark World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Obaahemaa Akosua Asieduwaa of Anyimadukrom cautioned parents, particularly mothers, against ignoring their daughters when they request money to buy sanitary pads.
“When you constantly tell your daughter you don’t have money to get her pads, you are unknowingly pushing her into the arms of men or peers who may not have good intentions,” she said. “That is how some girls end up being misled or taken advantage of.”
Her remarks came during a menstrual hygiene awareness event organized by Girls Shall Grow in partnership with the Jesuscina Foundation and the Ghana Education Service (GES). The event, held at St. Joseph Basic School in Obuasi East, brought together over 250 students, teachers, and community stakeholders.
The programme included the distribution of sanitary pads and stationery to basic school students, as well as poetry recitals, singing, and dancing, all aimed at promoting awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation.
Ending Period Poverty and Teenage Pregnancy
In addition to the queenmother’s address, Louisa Amoah, Executive Director of Girls Shall Grow, highlighted the broader implications of period poverty on young girls’ futures.
“We organised this event because too many girls fall victim to men who offer them money for pads in exchange for sex. This must stop,” she said. “By supporting girls with basic necessities like sanitary pads, we’re not just protecting their health—we’re helping prevent teenage pregnancies and school dropouts.”
Amoah emphasized that menstrual hygiene should be treated as a human rights issue and called on stakeholders, including government and civil society, to join in tackling the problem.
From the UK to Ghana: A Growing Impact
Harriet Nyarkoa Apau, Executive Director of the UK-based Jesuscina Foundation, shared how their work supporting Ghanaian immigrants in the UK inspired them to expand their impact to girls in Ghana.
“We started by helping Ghanaian immigrants settle comfortably in the UK—providing basic items, language lessons, and even setting up a food bank,” she explained. “Now we’re collaborating with Girls Shall Grow to extend that same compassion and support to girls back home.”
The Ghana Education Service was represented by Doris Aniagyei, Training Officer for Obuasi East, who lauded the initiative and encouraged continued collaboration to support the development of the girl-child.
“Girls face enough challenges as it is. Efforts like these ease the burden and send a powerful message that they are not alone,” Aniagyei said.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed globally on May 28 each year to raise awareness and break taboos around menstruation. This year’s theme was Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.