Education Minister Orders Complete Audit of Free Sanitary Pads in Schools Over Quality Issues

In a decisive move to safeguard student welfare and ensure fiscal responsibility, Ghana’s Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has mandated a comprehensive, nationwide audit of the sanitary pads distributed under the government’s Free Sanitary Pad Initiative. This action follows formal complaints from the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) regarding the substandard quality of products supplied to schools during the previous academic year. The audit aims to verify compliance with minimum quality standards, hold contractors accountable, and reaffirm the government’s commitment to providing safe, effective menstrual hygiene management (MHM) resources to female students.

Key Points: The Minister’s Directives and Rationale

The core announcements and directives from the Education Minister can be summarized as follows:

• Audit Mandate: A specialized team of auditors has been deployed to conduct on-site inspections in schools across the nation to physically assess the quality and condition of the sanitary pads in question.
• Trigger for Action: The audit was initiated directly due to concerns raised by the Consumer Protection Agency of Ghana, which had received reports of pads that were allegedly thin, ineffective, poorly constructed, or otherwise unfit for purpose.
• Review in Progress: Minister Iddrisu confirmed he is currently evaluating the preliminary assessment report and will formulate concrete recommendations for the broader government on how to rectify the situation and prevent recurrence.
• Zero-Tolerance Stance: The Ministry has declared a policy of “zero tolerance” for substandard supplies. Companies awarded future contracts are explicitly warned that adherence to national and international minimum quality standards is non-negotiable.
• Core Objectives: The Minister emphasized that the initiative must deliver “value for money” and, more critically, protect the “well-being of the student.” Supplying defective products is seen as an embarrassment to the government, the contractor, and, most importantly, the end-user—the student.

Background: The Free Sanitary Pad Initiative and Its Objectives

Launch and Policy Goals

The Free Sanitary Pad Initiative is a flagship social intervention program launched by the Government of Ghana to address a significant barrier to girls’ education: period poverty. The primary objective is to provide free, high-quality sanitary pads to girls in public schools, particularly in underserved and rural communities. This intervention seeks to:

• Reduce school absenteeism during menstruation.
• Improve girls’ concentration, participation, and overall academic performance.
• Promote dignity, health, and confidence among adolescent female students.
• Contribute to the broader national goals of gender parity in education and improved reproductive health outcomes.

Implementation Model and Procurement

The program is typically implemented through the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES). Sanitary pads are procured through competitive tender processes, where private companies bid to supply the products. The awarded contracts are meant to be governed by strict technical specifications covering absorbency, material safety, leakage protection, size, and packaging. Distribution channels usually involve school health coordinators, teachers, or designated school health club members who manage the inventory and disbursement to students.

Analysis: Unpacking the Quality Crisis and Its Implications

The Nature of the Quality Complaints

While the Minister did not itemize every defect, complaints to the Consumer Protection Agency likely align with common issues seen in substandard menstrual products globally. These can include:

• Insufficient Absorbency: Pads that fail to absorb menstrual flow adequately, leading to leaks, staining, and embarrassment.
• Poor Material Construction: Use of non-breathable, irritating, or low-grade materials that can cause rashes, infections, or discomfort.
• Inadequate Adhesion: Poorly designed backing that fails to stick to underwear, causing displacement and accidents.
• Hygiene and Contamination Risks: Evidence of poor manufacturing or storage practices that compromise the sterility of the product.
• Misleading Packaging: Claims on the packaging that do not match the product’s actual performance or specifications.

For a government program designed to support vulnerable girls, such failures are not merely a matter of poor value; they represent a direct threat to the health, dignity, and educational continuity the program aims to protect.

Health and Psychological Impact on Students

The consequences of receiving substandard sanitary pads are profound:

• Physical Health: Increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), skin irritations, and dermatitis from low-quality materials. Leakage can also lead to poor