Access Bank Donates First Tranche of One Million Sanitary Pads
Access Bank Ghana has begun its nationwide programme to fight period poverty with the donation of 500 boxes of sanitary pads to the Schools in Accra.
The donation, made in partnership with the Office of the Vice President, is part of the bank’s pledge to distribute one million sanitary pads across the country between 2026 and 2027. The initiative aims to ensure that no girl misses school due to lack of menstrual hygiene products.
The programme was first announced in July 2025 when the Group Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank PLC, Chizoma Okoli, paid a courtesy call on Vice President Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang. The engagement, facilitated under the Access Women’s Network (AWN), forms part of the bank’s broader commitment to women’s empowerment, education, and health.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Pearl Nkrumah, reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to advancing opportunities for women and girls. She explained that access to menstrual hygiene products is essential to keeping girls in school and preserving their dignity. “This initiative reflects our long standing focus on female empowerment. We believe that every girl deserves the chance to pursue her education without barriers,” she said.
The donation comprises 500 boxes containing 12,000 sanitary packs and represents the first phase of the larger nationwide distribution programme. According to the bank, subsequent deliveries will reach schools and communities across the country to ensure wide coverage.
Management of the New Horizon Special School expressed gratitude to Access Bank for its continued support. They noted that the intervention would greatly improve the welfare of students and reduce absenteeism among girls during their menstrual periods.
The initiative builds on Access Bank’s ‘W’ Initiative, which has driven gender focused interventions for more than a decade. In 2024 alone, the bank reached over 100,000 schoolgirls in 19 districts across five regions through menstrual hygiene education and the distribution of free sanitary pads.
Access Bank Ghana says it will continue to partner with stakeholders nationwide to promote inclusive development and empower young girls to remain in school and achieve their full potential. The bank believes that tackling period poverty is not only about health but also about giving girls equal opportunities to succeed in education and beyond.
