By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo & Rukayatu Musah
Vice President Professor Jane Nana Opoku-Agyemang has challenged students, especially young girls, to aspire to achieve more than she has attained in her career. She said education remains the most powerful tool for breaking barriers and transforming communities.
She made the call during a presentation of sanitary items and detergents to 26 schools in the Upper West Region. The brief ceremony took place at the forecourt of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council in Wa and drew students, teachers, and education stakeholders.
The Vice President noted that many girls miss school due to lack of access to menstrual hygiene products. She stressed that no girl should be held back by her biology, adding that keeping girls in school is key to national development.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang recalled that between 2013 and 2016, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government proposed sanitary pads as a solution to girls skipping school in response to their “monthly cycle” as well as other WASH interventions to create a congenial atmosphere for girls in school.
The Vice President stated the sanitary pad initiative received a backlash then, but added she was excited that the country has come far in accepting the necessity to roll out the intervention to support the girl-child in climbing the academic ladder. Professor Opoku-Agyemang encouraged the students to be disciplined and focused on their studies.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, said the initiative is part of efforts to reduce absenteeism among school girls. He explained that providing sanitary pads and detergents will help boost confidence and ensure girls stay in class throughout the academic term.
Mr. Puozuing intimated that the Regional Coordinating Council will work with all stakeholders to promote the welfare of the girl-child across Upper West.
The Girls Prefect of Wa Senior High School, Miss Alhassan Shumaimatu, who was among those who symbolically received the items on behalf of the beneficiary schools, expressed profound gratitude to the Vice President for the timely intervention.
She pledged that the beneficiaries would study hard and live up to the Vice President’s challenge to aim higher.
