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The Women’s Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in South Africa in collaboration with the Fred Agbenyo Development Fund (FADF) have donated sanitary pads to two schools in the Guan Constituency of the Oti Region of Ghana.

The beneficiary institutions were the Lipke Secondary School and Akpafu Secondary Technical School of the Guan constituency.

During the presentation ceremony on Sunday, 25th February 2024, at the Lipke Secondary School, Madam Wilbertina Buxton, SA NDC Women's Wing Organizer revealed that this is the second phase of the donation exercise which started last year in August. This year's donation exercise was themed "Empowering Girls Through Menstrual Hygiene, 'Sanitary Pads' Phase 2".

According to her, it is a project aimed at empowering young girls through menstrual hygiene by providing them with free sanitary pads. "This year we intend to run the project in all the regions of Ghana before the elections across the country and we're starting with the Oti Region, specifically the Guan Constituency".

"Our main aim for this drive is to advocate to parliament, to the present government and to our incoming president, H.E. John Mahama that we want a tax-free sanitary pad policy or provide sanitary pads free to all women especially, our young adults across the country", she emphasised.

She however underscored the fact that the cycle women go through to be identified as women isn't a choice but a compulsion by nature . "It isn't a choice but we have to go through it to become women. That is part of our identity and why should we struggle to get materials to use when menstruating?", she quizzed.

"This gesture is a testament of the resolve of the NDC Women's Wing of South Africa to demonstrate to government, Parliament, the flagbearer and incoming president of Ghana, to appreciate the plight of women and why something ought to be done urgently", she noted.

She added, "there is no need for a woman, especially young girls, to struggle just because she is going through her menstrual cycle. They should not have to use unhygienic materials, they don't have to skip school just because their uniforms got stained due to the usage of improper materials. This is improper and inappropriate", she affirmed.

Again, she averred that they are supporting the 24-hour economy of the NDC flagbearer, so should any woman experience the urge to mentruate at any given time, she can rush to a chemist, a pharmacy or clinic or shop to get a pad to buy at any given time of the day. "Hopefully, next week, March 2, 2024 we're touching base at Asante Region and on March 8, we're touching base at Greater Accra Region", she hinted.

Madam Buxton was in the company of PC for Guan Constituency, Hon Fred Agbenyo, the Regional Women Organiser for Oti Region, the Guan Constituency Executives, Ablekuma West Constituency Women Organiser and her Branch and Ward Executives.