Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF), as part of activities to commemorate the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, has distributed 50,000 sanitary pads to 4,000 girls in 10 communities within the catchment area of the operations of Newmont Gold Limited.
With funding support from the World Gold Council, basic school girls in Kenyasi 1 and 2, Ntotroso, Gyedu, Wamahinso, Adrobaa, Afirisikpakrom, Yamfo, Susuanso, and Terchire received three sets of sanitary pads each and a sanitary bag.
Staff of NADeF, a body mandated to manage resources earmarked by Newmont Gold Limited for the development of its affected communities, and workers of Newmont also educated the girls on maintaining proper hygiene during menstruation.
The pupils in schools, including Kwakyekrom D/A Basic, Ntotroso Methodist Basic, and Islamic Basic schools, were sensitised on topics such as keeping personal hygiene and dealing with myths, as well as the physical and emotional changes surrounding menstruation.
Observed every May 28, Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 urges global action to end stigma and ensure access to safe, affordable menstrual care for women and girls.
The theme for 2025, “Together for a Period-Friendly World”, advocates for collective action to ensure menstruation does not limit access to education, health, or opportunities. It emphasises breaking the stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation.
Elizabeth Opoku Darko, the Executive Secretary of NADeF, said her organisation is aware that most girls drop out of school due to poor management of their periods, myths surrounding menstruation, and the lack of sanitary pads.
She added that in the foundation’s routine visits to the communities, it has been realised that girls’ enrolment keeps dropping from basic four to Junior High School three due to poor management of menstruation and issues surrounding it.
The Executive Secretary bemoaned how most parents could not afford sanitary pads, leaving the girls at home throughout the seven days of menstruation, saying, “The donation of pads will keep the girls clean, confident, and hopeful.”
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Elizabeth Opoku Darko reiterated that menstruation is a part of the experience of girls and women and not a taboo, urging for stakeholder collaboration between parents, teachers, and male partners to ensure a healthy and period-friendly world.
The Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF) was established in May 2008 through a Foundation Agreement to help communities affected by the mine achieve prosperity and self-reliance.
Elizabeth Opoku Darko stated that with integrity, respect, stewardship, participation, inclusiveness, and transparency, we empower our communities through grants, knowledge-sharing, partnerships, and capacity-building to achieve sustainable development.
A student, Blessing Oduro, on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the management of NADeF and Newmont Ahafo for their timely education and donation regarding menstruation.
She said that we have been taught to bathe twice daily, change our pads every five hours, and be confident in school and other social gatherings during menstruation, noting that “we will use the skills and knowledge acquired prudently.”
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