The Women’s Wing of the Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) congratulates the new Cabinet of the
Government of Ghana on the occasion of its inaugural meeting on 20 February 2025. We know the
Cabinet is key to ensuring the government fulfils its commitments to the people.
SMG Women’s Wing is dedicated to promoting economic and social justice for all, particularly for
women. We wish to ensure that the promises made to Ghanaian women in the NDC’s Resetting Ghana
Manifesto, and by the Government in its First 120 Days Social Contract are realised. We would like to
draw your attention to two policy promises that cannot be fulfilled within the first 120 days without
specific provisions in the Budget scheduled to be presented on 10 March 2025. These are:
● commencing the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and
secondary schools (Commitment No. 12); and
● allocating seed money for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank
(Commitment No. 15).
Free sanitary pads
The cost of sanitary pads remains a significant barrier to education for many young women from
economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The provision of free sanitary pads is a critical step towards
achieving gender equity in education. We will hold the Government to its promise. We assume that the
NDC had a broadly costed scheme in place at the time it made these campaign promises. We also assume
that some inter-ministerial committees involving at least the Ministries of Finance, Education, and Gender
Children and Social Welfare are working out a more granular costing for inclusion in the Budget.
However, should there be any difficulties, the Socialist Movement of Ghana and many women’s rights
campaign organisations would be more than happy to assist in developing and costing the policy and its
implementation scheme if requested. Delivering this promise to young women is an urgent item on the
agenda of all women’s movements. We would like to see it developed in consonance with the President’s
24 Hour Economy policy that will address the constraints suffered by domestic manufacturers of hygiene
products so that the solution to this critical social problem is also a stimulus to growth.
Womens Development Bank
Women dominate Ghana’s informal economy. They face systemic financial exclusion. The government’s
commitment to establishing and seed-funding a Women’s Development Bank could be essential in
reversing this situation. We are yet to see a fleshed-out policy on the Women’s Development Bank that
will inform the levels of support from the Budget. We note also that several versions of the concept are
under discussion in the gender rights community, and no one is quite sure yet what Government intends
or how it will implement its programme. Again, we, and many other gender rights organisations, would
be happy to help develop the policy, strategy, and plan if afforded the opportunity. But implementation of
this initiative must not be delayed. Like feminine hygiene, this is not a niche demand by young women.
Credit and other forms of support for micro, small, and medium sized business (which are largely women)
is central to resetting our economy and should engage the attention of the entire cabinet.
Ghanaians expect action, not just promises. As the deadline for confirming funding these commitments
is less than three weeks away, we demand better communication on these policy targets and their
implementation. We will also insist that the processes adopted in their implementation are transparent
and allow all stakeholders to measure progress and feedback constructively. The Socialist Movement of
Ghana will continue to engage with the government and civil society organizations to monitor the
fulfilment of these pledges.
Lorretta Naa Dei Ashie
Women’s Wing Leader
(0246708898)
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