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
The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old driver, Bismark Kpormeno, for possession of a large quantity of compressed plant materials suspected to be Indian hemp.
The arrest was made on Sunday, 31 May 2026 by officers of the Tema Highway Patrol Unit during an operation along the Tema-Ada road.
According to police, the suspect was driving a Hyundai Mighty I container truck and failed to stop when signaled. He attempted to evade arrest but was pursued and apprehended at Bondase.
A search of the vehicle revealed twelve 12 sacks and eighty 80 parcels of compressed plant materials concealed in a container and wrapped in sellotape.
Preliminary investigations show the narcotics were allegedly loaded at Kpeve in the Volta Region and were being transported to Ada.
The suspect is currently in police custody assisting with investigations. The truck and exhibits have been impounded for evidential purposes.
The Tema Regional Police Command says it remains committed to combating drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
They also urged the public to support law enforcement by providing timely and credible information on suspicious activities.
Firefighters from the Peki Fire Station of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded swiftly to a fatal head-on collision involving a Mercedes-Benz container truck (WR 1553-C) travelling from Nkwanta to Accra and a Mercedes-Benz passenger bus (GR 3215-E) travelling from Battor to Kabiti in the Oti Region.
The crash occurred at Peki-Tsame near Peki Senior High School in the early hours of Tuesday, 2nd June 2026.
A total of forty (40) persons were involved, comprising twenty-one (21) males, fifteen (15) females, and four (4) children.
Through a coordinated rescue operation, firefighters extricated 25 injured casualties, including 23 adults and two children.
Sadly, 15 persons lost their lives, made up of nine males and 6 females.
The injured were conveyed to the Peki Government Hospital for treatment, while the deceased were handed over to the Police, who conveyed them to the hospital mortuary for preservation and further investigation. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
The Ghana National Fire Service has extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and urges all motorists to observe road traffic regulations, avoid dangerous driving practices, and exercise maximum caution on the roads to help prevent accidents and save lives.
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