Menstruation not a taboo – Betty Mould-lddrisu champions girls’ rights – Nsemkeka
Former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, says that menstruation is neither a curse nor a taboo that should prevent girls from accessing education.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman, in commemoration of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, she emphasised the urgent need for access to free sanitary products, increased awareness, and empowerment for girls, describing it as “a compelling call for all of us.”
She reaffirmed the government’s full commitment to dismantling the social and economic barriers that menstruating girls face.
“That’s why, in a bold and necessary step, the government has launched the Free Sanitary Pads Programme, to help girls manage their periods with dignity,” she said.
In commemoration of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, a powerful new documentary titled “Barred by Blood: The Cultural Chains Holding Back Girls in Kyekyewere” was screened at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Cantonments, Accra on May 27, 2025.
The event, organised through a collaboration between the Government of Ghana, the British High Commission Accra, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), brought together stakeholders in health, education, gender advocacy, and the diplomatic community to confront the challenges facing girls due to deep-rooted menstrual taboos.
The documentary spotlights the deeply rooted cultural practices in Kyekyewere that isolate and marginalise young girls during menstruation, practices that affect their education, self-esteem, health, and reduce stigma across Ghana.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, in an interaction with journalists, commended President John Dramani Mahama for the launch of the ‘Free Sanitary Pad Initiative.’
She described the initiative as a timely and impactful measure to guarantee access to sanitary pads for all girls. According to her, this intervention is crucial in curbing the disturbing practice of “sex for pads” and safeguarding the rights and dignity of young girls.
The Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira East Constituency, Emelia Ankomah Esq. also addressing the media, emphasized the urgent need to break the silence around menstruation and ensure that no girl is held back by natural biological processes, expressed her concern over the incident involving the girls and stated that she would engage relevant members of the community to determine the best course of action.
Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed globally on May 28, seeks to raise awareness and advocate for the dignity and rights of girls and women. This year’s event in Ghana highlights the role of storytelling and community engagement in transforming harmful cultural norms.