News
‘Improving menstrual hygiene among girls crucial’
Emefa Kumaza donating sanitary pads to some school girls
Improving menstrual hygiene among girls is crucial because it affects school attendance as well as the engagement and performance of school girls, the Founder and Director of My Youth Led Community Organisation, Emefa Kumaza has said.
She explained that when girls were equipped to manage their menstruation safely and with confidence, it reduces the days she misses school.
Ms Kumaza said this in an interview with The Spectator on Friday in Accra as the world marks Menstrual Hygiene Day which is commemorated every year on May 28.
This year, the day was celebrated globally on the theme “together for a period friendly world,” with the aim of eliminating the stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation and live in a world where everyone can access the products, period education and period-friendly infrastructure needed.
She said consistent engagement enhances their academic performance and opens up future career opportunities and lay a foundation for economic independence.
She was of the view that addressing menstrual hygiene helps normalise menstruation and reduce the stigma leading to a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students
Ms Kumaza said period poverty worsens the already existing barriers to girls’ education especially in rural Ghana, explaining that many girls lack access to menstrual hygiene products, adequate sanitation facilities and accurate information about menstruation.
She said in 2021, she started an initiative known as ‘Her Period Matters’ and distributed over 3000 sanitary pads and organised educational workshops.
“These efforts not only help with immediate needs but also empower girls with knowledge about their bodies, challenging taboos and enhance their confidence,” Ms Kumaza said.
She said the initiative had worked with five schools in the Northern regional capital, Tamale with monthly distributions of sanitary pads, adding that “we have moved on to setting up pad banks in collaboration with school authorities.
She called on government to abolish taxes on menstrual products and make it freely available in schools, saying that when implemented, it would ensure that menstruation would not impede the education of girls.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
News
Upper West Regional Police Command secures conviction against notorious robbers
The Upper West Regional Police Command is pleased to announce the conviction and sentencing of Abdulai Ibrahim alias Baba, 34 (Driver Mate) and Abdulai Kipo, 36 (Butcher), for their involvement in conspiracy to commit crimes to wit robbery and robbery.
The duo were found guilty and sentenced to 28 and 18 years imprisonment in Hard Labour, respectively.
The accused persons were implicated in a series of robberies across the Napogbakole, Danko, SSNIT, and Konta areas of the Wa Municipality.
Their arrest and conviction were made possible through intelligence-led investigations and meticulous gathering of evidence by the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate.
The conviction and sentencing were carried out at the Wa Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Jonathan Avoogo.
The court’s verdict underscores the Command’s commitment to ensuring justice and safety in the region.
The Upper West Regional Police Command reaffirms its determination to make the region safe for peaceful coexistence and will continue to work tirelessly to combat crime and protect its residents.
News
Police arrest two suspects for possession of suspected narcotic substance at Ayi Mensah
The Ghana Police Service has arrested two suspects for possession of eleven (11) large compressed sacks of a substance suspected to be narcotics at Ayi Mensah in the Greater Accra Region.
The suspects, Mathew Narkotey and Augustine Teye, were arrested by a team from the National Operations Department (NOD) on June 7, 2025 during routine patrols. The suspects were onboard a Mazda pick-up truck with registration number GT 3490-P when a search uncovered the suspected narcotic substance concealed in the vehicle.
The vehicle and the suspected substances have been impounded and are currently secured at the Joint Operations Centre for evidential purposes.
Both suspects are in police custody assisting with investigations, while efforts are underway to arrest one Martey, named by the suspects as the intended recipient of the consignment.
