Breaking the cycle: School girls in Techiman unite against child marriage, demand menstrual dignity

Over 300 final-year students from Islamic schools gathered today in Techiman. They came together to protect their futures against child marriage and demand menstrual equity.

This event marked World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025. It followed a chilling revelation from a traditional leader.

The program was organized by Ellen White Opoku, CEO of the Ellen White Sustainable Foundation. She is also a 2023 Joy News Impact Makers Awardee. The sensitization program equipped the girls with vital knowledge for their upcoming exams.

The core message was clear: prioritize education, reject child marriage, and speak out.

"Your exams are your passport to freedom," said Ellen White Opoku. "Child marriage is a dead-end street trapping your dreams." She urged the girls to report any issues they face immediately.

The gathering became emotional when Nana Ama Asantewaa Munufie spoke. She is the Queenmother of the Hansua Traditional Area. She linked the lack of menstrual hygiene products to vulnerability and exploitation.

"When your daughter bleeds, it is life, not shame!" she stated firmly. "Denying her sanitary pads leaves her exposed to predators."

She shared a tragic story from her community about a young girl in need of pads. A man took advantage of her situation and impregnated her. This horror shows our collective failure when we neglect basic needs.

Queenmother Munufie's plea extended beyond parents. She called on philanthropists and NGOs to support vulnerable girls with essential sanitary products.

Ellen White Opoku emphasized that addressing child marriage requires tackling its root causes, including menstrual poverty.

The event raised awareness about reporting mechanisms and discussed menstrual health management. This created a stronger safety net for attendees.

The gathering highlighted the link between menstrual dignity and preventing child marriage and exploitation. Queenmother Munufie's account showed how lacking sanitary pads can derail education and trap girls in vulnerability.

There is now a unified call for the government’s free pad policy to become an immediate reality, adding weight to this growing national demand.