Ghana Bank Gives 10,000 Pads to Keep Girls in School

Development Bank Ghana is helping thousands of girls stay in school by removing a barrier many people never think about: access to sanitary pads.

The bank distributed 10,000 sanitary pads to students across Northern, Upper East, Ashanti, and Greater Accra regions as part of World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28. The timing reinforced this year's global theme: "Together for a Period-Friendly World."

Barbara Anawonu Wricketts, who leads the bank's social responsibility programs, visited Tepa Senior High School to deliver supplies and talk openly about menstruation. She emphasized that many girls get their first period at a young age but face confusion because cultural stigma prevents honest conversations about what's happening to their bodies.

The silence creates real consequences. Students told reporters that the high cost of menstrual products sometimes forces them to skip school entirely, falling behind in their studies during their periods each month.

Helen Baffoe Adentwi, Senior Housemistress at Tepa Senior High School, called the donation important but said sustained support is needed. While Ghana's government has made progress on menstrual health awareness, ensuring consistent access to affordable products remains a challenge for many families.

The Ripple Effect

When girls have access to menstrual products, they don't just attend more school days. They participate more confidently in class, focus better on learning instead of worry, and see their education as something no biological process should interrupt.

The bank's donation reached students at multiple schools, including Maabang Senior Technical High School and girls in surrounding communities. Development Bank Ghana partnered with the Special Lady Foundation to make the distribution possible.

This kind of corporate action creates momentum. Other organizations in Ghana are launching similar programs, recognizing that something as simple as sanitary pads can determine whether a girl finishes her education or falls behind her male classmates who never face this barrier.

Every student deserves to learn without interruption, and these 10,000 pads are keeping that promise for thousands of Ghanaian girls.