Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, has pushed back against allegations made by Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Asafuah, who claimed that sanitary pads purchased for junior and senior high school students cost the government GH₵45 per pack.
In a comprehensive rebuttal, Dr. Apaak labelled the assertion as “false and misleading,” clarifying that both the ministry’s approved budget and distribution records contradict any suggestion of inflated pricing. He explained that Parliament allocated GH₵292 million for the procurement of 12,208,340 sanitary pad packs under the government’s menstrual hygiene support initiative.
According to Dr. Apaak, the procurement was conducted in two batches, with all purchases falling within a price range of GH₵19 to GH₵24 per pack, significantly less than the figure cited by the MP. “There is no GH₵45 anywhere. The facts are clear. The pads distributed so far cost between GH₵19 and GH₵24 per pack. Transport and distribution costs must not be misconstrued as inflated procurement,” he stated.
He added that the first batch, consisting of 6.6 million packs (each with 12 sanitary pads), has already been fully distributed, while the second batch of 5.6 million packs is currently being dispatched to schools nationwide. Dr. Apaak emphasized the ministry’s commitment to transparency throughout the process and accused detractors of misrepresenting figures to mislead the public and undermine a programme critical for adolescent girls, particularly in underserved communities.
Calling for accuracy in public discourse, Dr. Apaak urged policymakers, the media, and the public to verify facts before making claims in budget debates. “Sanitary pads for girls should never become a tool for political point-scoring,” he concluded.
The Ministry of Education has assured that the distribution of the remaining consignments is ongoing and reaffirmed its pledge to maintain transparency in the menstrual hygiene support programme.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
