Free sanitary pads: 2027 Budget allocates GH¢292m for schoolgirls
Government has set aside GH¢292 million in the 2027 Budget to continue the free sanitary pads programme for schoolgirls.
The 2027 Budget of Ghana allocates GH¢292 million for the provision of free sanitary pads to schoolgirls, according to the Ministry of Education's plan presented to Parliament on November 12. This amount is included within the Ministry's GH¢48 billion budget, which was outlined by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson. The initiative aims to remove menstrual barriers to girls' education by ensuring they have access to sanitary pads throughout their school life.
President John Mahama introduced the Free Sanitary Pad Initiative in April 2025, pledging to provide 6,607,095 pads to schoolgirls in all 16 regions of the country to ensure they do not miss school during menstruation. The first batch of approximately 6.6 million pads, costing between GH¢19 and GH¢24 per pack, was distributed in October 2025.
However, the 2027 Budget Statement does not provide details on the number of girls or pads to be supplied, nor does it specify a distribution timetable or the per-unit cost. The allocation falls within the education budget, with the total government expenditure for 2027 projected at GH¢389 billion.
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