Inspire Today, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has partnered with Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Wilmar Africa and Chamber of Mines to support over 4,000 girls in the Volta Region with sanitary towels, bathing soap, roll-ons, shaving sticks and educational materials.
As part of the International Women’s Day celebration, 4,000 girls within selected communities of Mepe, Dadome and Juapong schools in the North Tongu District and Akrofu in the Sokode District, received support from the team. The presentations form part of Inspire Today’s efforts to tackle period poverty.
Founder and CEO of Inspire Today, Etornam Sey, stressed on the need for government to review the 20 percent tax on sanitary towels so that the rural girl can afford it. She stressed the need to urgently address the issue of period poverty as this deprives most girls access to quality education.
“The estimated cost of one pad in Ghana averages about GH¢5. Organisations that support healthy menstruation management like Inspire Today, believe the Ghanaian government should remove the tax on these materials.
Many Ghanaian advocacy groups have proposed grassroots manufacturing initiatives for menstruation materials as an economically and environmentally sustainable solution. We believe that manufacturing menstruation materials on the ground would reduce cost and increase accessibility for these vital products”, She explained.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, expressed gratitude to the NGO, stressed the need to protect the girl child and hinted on steps being taken to support girls within the locality.
“We are determined to protect the girl child, so she can achieve her full potentials. As a result, we are reworking the local laws governing the constituency so young men who defile innocent and vulnerable girls will receive stiffer punishment. We are also constantly working with the district education office to give the girls the necessary resources to enable them stay in school.
We want to continue this partnership with Inspire Today because it is the surest way to empower our girls and keep them in school. I want to use the opportunity to wish all women and girls a happy International Women’s Day”, he said.
Assistant brand manager for non-food category for Wilmar Africa, Maame Adwoa Markin, stated that the company is interested in the hygiene and wellbeing of girls in Ghana, especially those in rural communities, hence the partnership.
“We know that when you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation and that is why we invest a lot in the girl child, ensuring they smell good, eat well and grow healthy. All our products, from Fortune rice to Jama soap, are all geared toward the wellbeing of society. As we mark International Women’s Day, we wish to encourage girls, especially in rural communities not to give up on their dreams”, she added.
Inspire Today is a network organisation nurturing a nationwide movement of female leaders through a concerted effort at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals three and five.
The project was sponsored by the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Wilmar Africa, Step Publishers, Firstklass Shipping Services, Fine print and benevolent individuals.
International Women’s Day, marked on March 8, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.