The inability of parents and guardians to afford sanitary pads for their wards is a threat to girl-child education especially in the rural areas. Nana Kwasi Bosomprah I, the Omanhene of Goaso Traditional Council is appealing to government to remove the imposed taxes on sanitary pads to make it affordable and easily accessible.

He said, it is not optional for ladies to menstruate every month. However, it is a natural phenomenon. The use of a sanitary pad is for their comfort to ensure cleanliness and therefore shouldn't be expensive.

Nana Bosomprah I expressed the situation as worrying as some girls whose guardians cannot afford the sanitary pads have to stay at home till their menstrual period is over before they return to school, "this makes them lose some of the study hours" he stressed.

He added, at some point, these young girls are forced to go into relationship so that they can depend on the men for their needs.

The appeal was made to SOMPA NEWS when he donated sanitary pads, exercise books, football, teaching desks and other items worth thousands of cedis to Dechem M/A Basic School in the Asunafo North Municipality as part of his 15 Years Anniversary Celebration as Chief of Goaso Traditional Concil.

Nana Kwasi Bosomprah I also used the opportunity to call on the government and philanthropists to come to the aid of the Dechem M/A Basic school emphasizing that lack of facilities to accommodate the students leaves them with no option than to study under trees and whenever it rains they have to abandon classes.

Some Civil Society Organisations and teacher groups have revealed that only 17 out of 5,400 schools under trees have been completed by the Akufo-Addo-led government since 2021. Reports indicate that there are over 5,400 schools existing under trees, sheds and dilapidated structures, a situation which negatively affects, teaching, learning, and learning outcomes. The general learning environment is not only a disincentive for teachers to accept postings but also demotivates existing teachers while making school attendance unattractive to students.

Filed by: NANA KWAME AGYEMANG-OPAMBOUR, AHAFO REGION