Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru Constituency in the Eastern Region, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has expressed strong disappointment over the government’s decision to allocate GHC300 million for the procurement of sanitary pads for female students in public schools.

In a statement shared via social media, the MP questioned the rationale behind what he described as a short-term expenditure, arguing that the same amount could be more wisely invested in establishing a local factory to manufacture sanitary pads—a move he believes would deliver lasting economic and social benefits.

“If the Government has 300 million Ghana Cedis to procure sanitary pads for female students in our public institutions, why can’t the Government use the same money to set up a factory to produce them?

That will even cost less than the 300 million allocated for 2025,” Osei Nyarko wrote.

His remarks come amid heightened national conversation on menstrual hygiene and accessibility, especially among girls in underserved communities.

While government officials have defended the allocation as a pro-poor intervention aimed at improving menstrual health and promoting girl-child education, critics like Osei Nyarko say the approach lacks long-term vision.

“This country cannot continue to rely on imported solutions to basic needs when we have the capacity to manufacture them here,” he added.

The MP’s comments have gained traction, particularly among development economists and local manufacturing advocates, who argue that a sanitary pad factory could reduce production costs, create jobs, and ensure a steady supply chain for schools and health institutions across the country.