Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang says the government has earmarked over GHS292 million in the 2026 national budget for the provision of free, locally produced sanitary pads to schoolgirls across the country.
The Vice President made this known on Monday, December 15, 2025, while inaugurating a new production line at Software Manufacturing Limited, a move aimed at significantly scaling up local sanitary pad production and supporting government efforts to improve girls’ education and menstrual hygiene management.
The newly commissioned fourth production line increases the company’s annual output from 60 million to over 80 million packs of sanitary pads, strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity and creating additional employment opportunities within the local economy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Opoku-Agyemang praised Software Manufacturing Limited for its continued innovation and contribution to Ghana’s industrial development, noting that the expansion aligns with the government’s broader agenda to promote local industry while ensuring access to essential health and hygiene products.
She described the free sanitary pad initiative as a critical intervention to support girls’ education, reduce absenteeism, and promote dignity, health, and well-being among schoolgirls.
The Vice President stressed that partnerships between government and local manufacturers remain central to achieving inclusive growth, job creation, and sustainable industrialisation, adding that the expanded facility will help meet national demand while reinforcing the policy of prioritising locally manufactured goods in public procurement.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
