Since the beginning of the year, prices of sanitary pads have been on a surge.
Between 2020 and 2021, it was sold at an average cost of GH₵S7. Currently, the average retail price in the Ghanaian market is GH₵12.
Retailers of sanitary pads have lamented how it is affecting sales. While some associate the price hikes with them, they said blame it on high production costs.
Two young girls at the Makola market, shared with me how the high prices of sanitary pads are affecting them.
Hiikma Yakubu, a head potter said the current prices of sanitary products make it difficult to practice good menstrual hygiene. Due to her financial status, she’s not able to use the recommended number.
“I use one sanitary pad all day to maximize the few I have for the whole period. Sometimes when it overflows, I change into two panties and wear short jeans to prevent staining myself and that makes me uncomfortable,” she said.
Another potter, Ayisha Amadu said she hardly buys sanitary pads these days because of her inability to afford them at the prices they are being sold.
“I borrow sanitary pads from my friends and that puts me in a difficult situation when my colleagues sometimes do not also have enough.”
In an interview with Blessilla Na-ofoe Kandoh, a Campaign Coordinator for NORSAAC, an NGO that supports girls, she stated that the current prices of sanitary pads have put many marginalized young girls into more difficult situations because they have always been struggling to buy sanitary pads.
This, she said can expose them to infections and nullifies their everyday efforts in those marginalized communities to help young menstruating ladies with sanitary pads.
“It is disheartening since it puts marginalized girls into difficult situations. Some communities already have challenges accessing these pads and now the high prices make it even worse” she noted.
Written by Abukari Asana, Student GIJ
