Free Sanitary Pad policy transparent, efficient, backed by verifiable data – Apaak

Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, has mentioned that criticism directed at the government’s sanitary pad distribution programme is based on misinformation.

He stated that the policy is operating within approved budget limits and supported by verifiable supply and distribution figures.

Speaking in Parliament during the 2026 budget debate, Dr. Apaak addressed what he described as “persistent inaccuracies” surrounding the GH¢292 million allocation for sanitary pads intended for girls in upper primary, junior high schools, and senior high schools.

According to him, claims that the government procured sanitary pads at an inflated unit cost of GH¢45 per pack are “entirely false and not grounded in the Ministry’s records.”

Dr. Apaak stated that the Ministry of Education—the implementing agency for the programme—has adhered strictly to transparent procurement processes guided by the allocations approved by Parliament.
“Let the public be reassured,” he said, “at no point did the Ministry award any contract that priced a pack of 12 sanitary pads at GH¢45. That claim has no basis in fact.”

He explained that the GH¢292 million budgeted in 2025 was operationalised through a structured procurement plan split into two major supply batches.
“The first batch covered 6,637,095 packs, while the second comprised 5,601,245 packs,” he noted, adding that the quantities were distributed nationwide in line with the programme’s mandate to remove barriers that hinder girls’ participation in school.

Dr. Apaak disclosed that as at the latest reporting period, a significant portion of the materials had already reached beneficiaries across the country.
“As I speak to you, 6,607,173 packs have been distributed to 2,578,519 learners,” he said.

The Deputy Minister also corrected suggestions that senior high school students were excluded from the intervention.
“It is inaccurate to claim that students in secondary schools were not covered. They were included in the distribution framework,” he clarified.

He stressed that the sanitary pad programme—one of the government’s gender-support interventions—has already demonstrated measurable impact, especially in reducing absenteeism linked to menstrual challenges.

Dr. Apaak emphasised that the Ministry welcomes public scrutiny but urged critics to rely on verified information rather than assumptions.
“There is no scandal here,” he said firmly. “The numbers are available, the distribution data is available, and no price inflation has occurred.”

He added that the Ministry remains committed to ensuring transparency as the programme continues into the 2026 fiscal year, during which similar allocations are expected to support ongoing efforts to promote menstrual hygiene and improve learning outcomes for girls.