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PTAs commit to sustaining volunteer-led menstrual health initiative in Tongu
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
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
