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Demystifying menstruation and empowering girls – Nana Ama Adutwumwaa’s journey
Five years ago, Nana Ama Adutwumwaa started a journey to demystify menstruation and empower young girls.
With her “Touching the Lives of Girls Foundation” the focus was to spearhead a campaign to demystify the “taboos” surrounding menstruation and also provide sanitary towels to young girls.
Her passion for feminine hygiene issues was borne out of a personal experience she encountered a few years before starting her advocacy.
She recounts that she nearly lost her live following a severe pelvic infection which spread to her ovaries.
According to doctors who performed surgeries on her, the growth was a result of years of improper hygiene practices and so when she recovered she started the advocacy to share her journey while preaching proper hygiene practices.
As the foundation marks its fifth anniversary this year, Ms Adutwumwaa says she is grateful to the partners who have supported her, traditional leaders and opinion leaders for their support and contributions and schools across the country for opening their doors
“I have lost count of the number of schools and communities we have visited within this five-year period but the feedback and connection we have created with the girls, teachers and community leaders is amazing. “she said.
She said her outfit did not only embark on these campaigns on May 28 when World Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed but organises talks throughout the year saying, “In May we join the world to mark the day but the topic is a very relevant one which must be discussed all year round. This is why we continue to educate girls especially in schools out of Accra on the importance of proper hygiene.”
To make the campaign effective, Ms Adutwumwaa includes traditional leaders and other opinion leaders from different religious backgrounds to add their voice to the campaign.
She said they have chosen this approach because most of the taboos are deep rooted in certain cultures and religious settings and getting the leaders involved is a way of ensuring that the whole community is involved in the change the foundation wants to see.
Also, although the campaign is targeted at young girls, male students and teachers are not excluded. They are also involved in the education so they understand that menstruation is a natural occurrence
“In some rural areas, there are days some girls menstruating refuse to go to school because they are shy of soiling themselves and being ridiculed by their male classmates. We involve the boys so they do not make fun of girls who accidentally soil themselves. Some of these girls also cannot confide in their parents or caregivers when they start menstruating and it is the teachers who they speak to. This is one of the reasons we include the male teachers so they can guide the girls if need be, “she explained.
Ms Adutwumwaa said till date, some girls hide their menarche (first menstrual period) from their mothers or guardians till they are caught with blood stains.
Most of them therefore use toilet rolls and other unhygienic papers and clothes and do not take good care of themselves which exposes them to life threatening infections’
“In my case for instance, I got the infection from years of using toilet roll. I think little pieces of the paper gathered over time and escalated into a serious health condition. This is why I am so passionate about this cause. There are days we travel long hours to reach some communities and are tempted to give up but we continue because we know what we do is important in the lives of girls and the communities as a whole
“Some of the materials some girls use during their menstruation will shock you. Talk of rags, plantain leaves, cotton, old newspapers and other materials which predisposes them to infections. Thankfully, after our talks we are able to distribute some sanitary towels to them and teach them how to use them properly, “she explained
Touching on funding, she said although she had personally invested a lot of money into the project in the last five years, a number of organisations and individuals have contributed immensely towards its success.
She expressed gratitude to the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Melcom Care Foundation, Eximbank Ghana, Donewell Insurance, Guinness Ghana, Fidelity Bank and Opportunity International.
She also acknowledged the wife of Lady Julia Osei Tutu, the wife of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, the Patron of the foundation and Nana Ama Agyekum Kufuor, Co-Founder for their direction and counsel over the period.
Other members on her team include Dr John K. Bosomtwe, anobstetrician-gynecologist;Akosua Biama Aboagye, chief financial officer; Regina Akosua Frimpong, organiser and Godwin Ziorkli, in charge of digital media.
“There are many instances when team members had to put resources together to support one of our talks or buy sanitary pads. I can’t underestimate their support to the success of this project. On days when I breakdown due to lack of funding or other logistic challenges, they step in and take charge.”
Asked what her plans are for the future, Ms Adutwumwaa said she was hoping to secure more sponsorships locally and internationally to extend the project to other communities especially, remote areas.
“In the last five years, we have reached out to many communities across the country but there is more we can do if we have the support. Usually, on our visits, we distribute sanitary towels and leave some for the schools. We receive calls from teachers requesting for more and there are also calls from other places we have not been to at all.
“I am appealing to organisations and benevolent individuals to support us keep girls in school. The importance of education cannot be underestimated and we wouldn’t want girls to miss out because they are menstruating,” she noted.
Background
Ms Adutwumwaa had her basic education at the Golden Child School at Nii Boye Town, Accra before moving to Nifa Senior High School at Adukrom in the Eastern Region.
After SHS, she gained admission to the Central University College where she studied Human Resource Management.
She later enrolled at the Ghana Institute of Journalism for short courses in Event Management and Marketing.
Due to the intense nature of her advocacy work, she resigned from corporate world to fully focus on the foundation.
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Is the “Rev” title biblical?
In many Ghanaian churches, pastors are often introduced as “Reverend” or simply “Rev.”
The title is seen as a mark of respect, yet its biblical basis continues to stir debate.
While some Christians argue that it is a harmless way to honour church leaders, others insist it is unbiblical and should not be used at all.
Those who question the title usually point to the Bible itself. Nowhere in Scripture did Jesus or the apostles use “Reverend” for themselves or for one another.
Instead, they addressed each other as “brother” or “servant.” In Matthew 23, Jesus even warned his followers not to seek titles such as “rabbi” or “father,” teaching that all believers are equal under one God.
Critics also note that Psalm 111:9 describes God’s name alone as “holy and reverend” in the King James Bible.
To them, this means the word should be reserved for God, not for human beings. Others go further, citing Job 32, which cautions against giving flattering titles to men.
For such voices, the modern use of “Reverend” risks elevating pastors beyond what the Bible prescribes.
On the other hand, defenders of the title argue that it is not meant to replace God’s reverence but simply to acknowledge a minister’s role.
In many churches, “Reverend” is given to ordained ministers who have undergone training, much like the way a doctor is addressed as “Dr.”
The Bible itself, they point out, encourages believers to honour their leaders, with 1 Timothy 5:17 stating that elders who direct the affairs of the church well are “worthy of double honour.”
In this sense, the title is seen as a formal courtesy rather than a theological statement.
Supporters remind critics that Christianity does not operate in a vacuum but within cultural settings.
In Ghanaian society, respect for elders and authority is central to social order. Just as chiefs are addressed with titles such as “Nana” or “Togbe,” many Christians believe it is fitting to extend a similar courtesy to church leaders.
In their view, calling a pastor “Reverend” reflects Ghanaian values of honour and respect, and does not amount to worshipping a human being.
Yet the debate is far from settled. Some argue that the title has been abused, with individuals presenting themselves as “Reverend” without any proper training or accountability.
Calls have even been made for the regulation of church titles to prevent confusion and protect the credibility of ministry. Others, however, see no harm in its continued use, so long as it is not taken beyond what Scripture allows.
At the heart of the matter lies a bigger question: should Christians stick strictly to biblical language when addressing their leaders, or is it acceptable to adapt titles as society evolves?
The conversation is not just theological but cultural, touching on how Ghana balances respect for tradition with the authority of Scripture.
The debate over the “Rev” title is therefore not one with easy answers. What is clear, however, is that it forces us to reflect on how we show honour, how we interpret the Bible, and how faith interacts with our cultural practices.
As the discussion continues in church pews and on social platforms, we ask you: should pastors and ministers be called “Reverend,” or should Christians abandon the title altogether?
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Police confirm arrest of two suspects in Asankrangwa murder case
The Western Central Regional Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two men in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old man at the Asankrangwa Education Area on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
In a statement signed by the Head of the Public Affairs Unit, ASP Beatrice Turkson, the police said preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased was chased and stabbed multiple times by a group of people.
The incident is believed to have stemmed from a misunderstanding between the deceased and one of the suspects, identified as 36-year-old Kwasi Opong.
According to the police, swift action led to the arrest of Opong and another suspect, 23-year-old William Francis Osei. Both are currently in custody assisting with investigations, while efforts are underway to apprehend another suspect who is still on the run.
The police noted that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Asankrangwa Catholic Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.
“The Command assures the public that all persons connected to this heinous crime will be brought to justice,” the statement said.
The police appealed to the public to provide any information that could assist in the ongoing investigations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
