Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has ordered a thorough investigation into sanitary pads distributed under last year’s government Free Sanitary Pad Initiative following quality concerns.

The Minister revealed to journalists on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, that the Consumer Protection Agency has raised concerns that have influenced the decision to assess the products supplied to schools across the country.

“I have asked a team of auditors to go around the schools and do an audit of the quality of some of the sanitary pads that were supplied, because I received concerns from the Consumer Protection Agency of Ghana as to some poor quality of some of the sanitary pads that were supplied last year,” he said.

Mr. Iddrisu disclosed that he is examining the findings of the assessment and will subsequently guide the government on the next steps to take.

“I’m now evaluating the report of the assessment and I would advise government whether, how to deal with it into the future,” he added.

The Minister stressed that firms granted contracts under the initiative are expected to meet required standards and supply products of acceptable quality.

“But essentially, we want any company that wins a bid to be mindful of standards, minimum standards, that they produce quality and they don’t produce things that can embarrass government, embarrass the user and embarrass the student,” he said.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to ensuring accountability and safeguarding the welfare of students, cautioning that substandard products will not be tolerated.

“So we are particular about the concerns that have been raised about the quality of the sanitary pads that are supplied and there will be zero tolerance for poor quality sanitary pads,” Mr. Iddrisu stressed.

In October last year, the Ghana Education Service (GES) provided over 6.6 million sanitary pads to schoolgirls in all 16 regions, as part of efforts to promote menstrual hygiene and ensure girls do not miss school during their periods.

The program, announced in a statement on Saturday, October 11, coincided with the International Day of the Girl Child, observed worldwide under the theme, “The Girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of the crisis.”

GES explained that the initiative was designed to support the welfare and dignity of adolescent girls while addressing challenges that hinder girls’ education, particularly those related to menstrual hygiene.

“This initiative is in fulfilment of the government of Ghana’s promise to provide free sanitary pads to all schoolgirls, from basic to second cycle levels, on a monthly basis throughout their school life,” the statement said.

The service highlighted that the distribution demonstrated the government’s wider commitment to enhancing menstrual health, promoting gender equality in education, and safeguarding the confidence and well-being of adolescent girls.

The statement also reaffirmed GES’s ongoing support for girls nationwide, emphasizing their dedication to creating an education system that is inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of every learner.

GES expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education for its role in implementing the initiative, describing it as a “life-changing intervention” that will enable girls to remain focused on their studies and fully benefit from educational opportunities.

Read the full statement below

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang commissioned Softcare’s new sanitary pads production line, as the company expanded its reach across West Africa and parts of Asia.

At the commissioning ceremony on Monday, 15th December 2025, she commended Softcare for evolving from a necessity-driven idea into a nationally recognized manufacturer, creating thousands of jobs and producing high-quality sanitary pads that proudly carry the “Made in Ghana” label.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the Company, describing the firm as a strategic domestic player within Ghana’s industrial reset agenda.

“The government of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama remains committed to the systematic transformation of Ghana’s economy.”

“The Ghana Framework for Industrialisation and Transformation is a key mechanism in this effort, and today’s commissioning demonstrates that the strategy is yielding tangible results. The partnership with Softcare shows what is possible when a responsive private sector aligns with a stable and supportive policy environment,” she stated.

The Vice President praised the company’s sustained growth over the past 15 years, noting that it exemplifies how a capable private sector can thrive within a predictable and business-friendly policy environment.

With the additional production lines, Softcare is positioned to meet local demand while increasing exports. The Vice President noted that sanitary pads have been classified as a high-potential product under the Accelerated Export Development Programme to broaden Ghana’s export base.

She stressed the need for Africa to move beyond the export of raw materials, arguing that value addition and processing are essential to expanding the continent’s share of global trade. “This is how we create sustainable employment, build local ownership, and anchor development on capital and technology that support long-term transformation,” she noted.

The Vice President commended Softcare’s social investments in education and healthcare and said the company stands to benefit from opportunities under the Free Sanitary Pads Programme.

Chairman of Softcare, Mr Y. C. Shen, commended the government’s policy approach, describing it as a key driver of Ghana’s economic progress.

He noted that Softcare’s activities are closely aligned with the 24-Hour Economy Initiative, adding that the new production line will improve operational efficiency and create more jobs locally.

Mr Shen said Softcare, as Africa’s leading manufacturer of sanitary pads and baby diapers, was pleased to support the Free Sanitary Pads Programme, which advances education, gender equity and public health outcomes.

He called on regulators and industry players to sustain a fair and transparent business environment, stressing that such conditions are essential for attracting investment and promoting inclusive economic growth.

Softcare’s journey began in 2009 with the trading of hygiene products. Over the years, it has grown into a leading multinational hygiene products company, engaged in the development, manufacturing and sale of baby and feminine hygiene products, including diapers, sanitary pads and wet wipes, with a focus on fast-growing emerging markets in Africa and Latin America.

In Ghana, Softcare entered the market in 2009 with the launch of its baby diapers, marking its first foray into Africa. Since then, Softcare Ghana has maintained a leading position in both the baby diaper and sanitary pads segments, contributing to Ghana’s industrialisation drive, strengthening national standards and positioning the country as a manufacturing hub in West Africa.

The company has also sustained a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility. In 2025, it rolled out several initiatives, including a Mother’s Day donation event at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and a nationwide road safety education campaign.

Following the launch of Ghana’s Free Sanitary Pads Programme in April 2025, Softcare joined the initiative as a major local supplier, supporting efforts to provide free sanitary pads to more than two million schoolgirls in public basic and secondary schools.

Through this intervention, the company aims to address period poverty, reduce school absenteeism and promote menstrual hygiene and dignity nationwide.

These efforts have earned Softcare significant national recognition. In 2023, the company secured membership of the National Technical Committee on Medical Devices under the Ghana Standards Authority.

In 2024, it was ranked first in the manufacturing sector at the 21st edition of the Ghana Club 100 Awards by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre. In 2025, Softcare received multiple honours at the Ghana–West Africa Business Excellence Awards, including Consumer Products Company of the Year, Overall Best Industrial Company of the Year, and Best Corporate Social Responsibility Company of the Year at the Association of Ghana Industries and Quality Awards.

Softcare says it remains committed to working closely with government to ensure its products meet the highest standards of safety, quality and sustainability, while maintaining deep engagement with local communities through impactful and responsible corporate citizenship.