CONIWAS Launches 2025 Ghana WASH Week with Spotlight on Reusable Menstrual Pad Standards

The Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) has officially commenced the 2025 Ghana WASH Week celebration with the dissemination of a newly developed standard for Reusable Menstrual Pads. The event marks a pivotal moment in Ghana’s push for inclusive and sustainable Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices, and sets the tone for a week-long national reflection on health, equity, and WASH access.

This year’s WASH Week is being celebrated under the theme: “WASH for a Healthy Ghana, Everyone, Everywhere.” The theme highlights the importance of equity, inclusion, accountability, and partnerships in building sustainable WASH systems across Ghana.

In her opening remarks at the dissemination event, Madam Basilia Nambigne, a leading voice in the sector, reaffirmed the significance of Ghana WASH Week in placing WASH issues at the forefront of national dialogue. She described the development of the standard for reusable menstrual pads as a major milestone, noting that the process began five years ago. She commended the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for taking up CONIWAS’ proposal and seeing it through to publication. “The dissemination of the standard is as important as the standard itself,” she said, expressing satisfaction that it has been featured as a central activity of the 2025 WASH Week.

Madam Esinam, representing Plan Ghana, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the session demonstrated the power of collaboration. “By formalising and sharing specifications for reusable menstrual pads, we’re progressing not only in technical standards but also in dignity, safety, and opportunity for girls and women across Ghana,” she said. She urged continued unity, mutual respect, and a focus on ensuring menstrual health for every girl, regardless of location or circumstance.

Mr. Harold Esseku, a key development partner, underscored the importance of the standard in the broader WASH ecosystem. He described menstrual hygiene awareness as a growing area of concern and praised stakeholders for their collective efforts in realising the standard. “It’s time Ghana had its own standard,” he stated.

From the education sector, Madam Ellen Gyekye, Programmes Officer at the National School Health Education Programme (SHEP), highlighted the importance of menstrual hygiene for schoolgirls. She urged manufacturers to adhere to the standard to ensure a healthy and safe alternative for menstrual management. She also called for investment in WASH facilities in schools to support the effective use of reusable pads. “GES remains committed to engaging the Ghana Standards Authority and the Ministry of Education to promote this standard,” she said.

Providing the background on the standard’s development, Madam Francisca from the GSA shared that the idea was first proposed by CONIWAS five years ago. Despite early funding challenges, Plan Ghana’s support enabled the project to move forward. She credited the Technical Committee—comprising academia, civil society, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders—for their crucial role in shaping the final standard, which has now been officially published.

Next Steps

• Awareness campaigns at community, district, and regional levels.
• Education for end-users (girls, women, schools) on reusable pad benefits.
• Promotion of WASH infrastructure in schools to facilitate pad usage.
• Government engagement (GES, Ministry of Education) to institutionalize the standard.

The session underscored the importance of standards in menstrual health, the power of multi-stakeholder collaboration, and the need for continued advocacy to ensure widespread adoption and impact. The GES team thanked Plan International Ghana and the Technical Committee and stakeholders for contributing to the initiative. The launch event kicks off a series of nationwide activities including workshops, radio discussions, and community outreach programs, running from 28th July to 1st August 2025. These efforts aim to deepen public awareness and drive momentum around critical WASH issues affecting millions across Ghana.