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PTAs commit to sustaining volunteer-led menstrual health initiative in Tongu
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Parents and Teachers Associations (PTAs) in three basic schools in the South and Central Tongu districts have committed to establishing community-led funding mechanisms, to sustain menstrual hygiene interventions introduced under a volunteer-led project to improve girls’ education and wellbeing.
The commitment was made during PTA engagement meetings organised by the Gender and Reproductive Health Advocacy Youth Network (GRAY Network), under the Strengthening Volunteer-Led Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), and Life Skills Education in Schools and Communities Project, with support from the STAR-Ghana Foundation.
The beneficiary schools are Atsieve D/A Basic School and Avakpedome D/A Basic School in the South Tongu District, and Lakpo D/A Basic School in the Central Tongu District.
The meetings brought together parents, teachers, school management, officials of the Ghana Education Service, traditional and community leaders, and representatives of GRAY Network, to review the impact of the intervention and agree on practical measures to sustain its achievements beyond the project implementation period.
Participants observed that the initiative, implemented through trained community volunteers, had significantly improved girls’ confidence, reduced menstrual-related absenteeism and enhanced their participation in classroom activities through the provision of reusable sanitary pads, menstrual hygiene education and life skills training.
Parents also acknowledged that the reusable sanitary pads had eased the financial burden associated with the monthly purchase of disposable sanitary products, particularly for vulnerable households, while contributing to improved menstrual health management among adolescent girls.
To sustain the intervention, the PTAs resolved to establish Menstrual Hygiene Support Funds in their respective schools to mobilise local resources to support the production of additional reusable sanitary pads, assist vulnerable girls and finance menstrual hygiene education and related activities.
The stakeholders also agreed to develop and sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the PTAs, the beneficiary schools and GRAY Network to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each party in sustaining menstrual hygiene interventions and promoting girls’ education, health and wellbeing.
Mr Mensah Godsway, Programme Manager of GRAY Network, said the project had demonstrated that volunteerism remained an effective approach to promoting sustainable community development by empowering local actors to take ownership of development interventions.
He said the decision by the PTAs to establish community support funds and formalise partnerships through the signing of MoUs reflected the communities’ commitment to sustaining the project’s gains beyond the donor funding period.
Mr Godsway said GRAY Network remained committed to working with schools, parents, community leaders and relevant institutions to strengthen menstrual hygiene management, advance sexual and reproductive health education and ensure that adolescent girls continued to access education in safe, supportive and inclusive learning environments.
Representatives of the PTAs, school authorities and the Ghana Education Service jointly commended GRAY Network and the STAR-Ghana Foundation for the intervention, describing it as a timely initiative that had improved girls’ school attendance, confidence and participation in academic activities.
They pledged to work collaboratively to mobilise community resources and honour the commitments outlined in the MoUs to guarantee the sustainability of the initiative. -GNA
A Prophet and General Overseer of Jesus Prayer Ministry at Ejisu Asuasi, Kumasi, and Pig Farm, Accra, Rt. Rev. Dr Mrs Grace Frimpong-Boateng, has urged Ghanaians to pray fervently to avert any disaster that would endanger many.
“God hears prayers, and intercessory prayers will provide your family safety and protection so you can live long and enjoy life in this world,” she added.
Rt. Rev. Dr Mrs Frimpong-Boateng was speaking with The Spectator in an interview last week.
According to her, she had a revelation that there would be a tragedy that will harm many people, however, effective prayers can avert it.
She said that the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) predicted another heavy downpour from Thursday to Sunday following the recent torrential rain that devastated Accra and other areas. However, strong intercessory prayers prevented the prediction, which would have been catastrophic.
She claims that whenever she shares something that God has revealed to her, she does not receive widespread support from people to join her in effective intercession.
As a result, she has urged everyone including members of parliament, cabinet ministers, traditional authorities, religious leaders, and other citizens to exercise caution and pray fervently in order to avoid premature death.
According to Rt. Rev. Dr Mrs Frimpong-Boateng the recent downpour in Accra which claimed lives and destroyed property was unusual.
“The sea was irritated because of certain rituals performed and caused it to spew forth, exposing the dirt.” There are still some rites in the sea, and they will definitely surface,” she disclosed.
“Let’s pray that God would burn and destroy the things that have contaminated the sea,” she indicated.
By Spectator
The Adentan Circuit Court has convicted a mason for stealing a four-year-old boy from Kpedze in the Volta Region and bringing him to Accra.
David Kpandoyo, 25, a Togolese national, pleaded guilty to a charge of child stealing.
The court, presided over by Mrs Angela Attachie, convicted him on his own plea and adjourned sentencing to July 14, 2026.
Kpandoyo told the court that he had gone to a drinking spot to consume alcohol when the child approached him.
He said he gave the boy some money, took him home, and could not remember what happened afterwards because he was intoxicated.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Patience Mario, assisted by Chief Inspector Jacob Nyarko, led the prosecution.
The prosecution said the complainant, Mr Bismark Gbago, is a 52-year-old painter residing at New Legon in Accra.
The victim’s mother, Ms Patience Ablordefey Afefa, is a 25-year-old hairdresser living at Kpedze in the Volta Region with the victim, a Kindergarten One pupil.
The prosecution said Kpandoyo also resided at New Legon, where he worked as a mason.
It said the victim went missing at Kpedze on July 1, 2026, at about 18:00 hours.
On July 3, at about 6:30pm, the complainant reported to the New Legon Police that he had found the four-year-old boy wandering around the area and that the child was unable to identify his home.
The prosecution said that on July 4, at about 4 p.m., the complainant informed the Police that after announcements were made within the community, Kpandoyo came forward claiming that the boy was his son.
The complainant and Kpandoyo subsequently went to the police Station to identify the child.
However, Kpandoyo was unable to produce the child’s birth certificate or lead the Police to the child’s mother.
Later that day, the police received a flyer bearing the name and telephone numbers of the victim’s mother, together with the child’s photograph, indicating that he had gone missing from Kpedze.
The police contacted the victim’s mother and asked her to report to the New Legon Police Station with the child’s birth certificate and weighing card because another person was claiming to be the child’s parent.
On July 6, the victim’s mother and her relatives reported to the Police Station and stated that they did not know Kpandoyo.
During investigations, Kpandoyo admitted in his cautioned statement that the victim was not his child.
He further confessed that while working at Kpedze, he stole the boy and brought him to Accra. –GNA
