A total of 1,036 young female students from 16 basic schools in mining communities in the Birim North District in the Eastern Region have benefitted from eight months’ supply of sanitary towels.

The beneficiary schools are Ntronang Roman Catholic, Ntronang Presby Basic, Yayaaso D/A Model, Hweakwae Roman Catholic, Adausena Methodist Basic, 
Afosu Presby Basic, Akwadum D/A Model Basic and New Abirem Islamic Model.

The rest are New Abirem D/A Basic 'A', New Abirem D/A Basic 'B', Afosu D/A Basic, Afosu Catholic Basic, Mamanso Islamic, Mamanso Presby Primary, Old Abirem D/A Model and Old Abirem Anglican.

The initiative was undertaken by the Ghana Chamber of Mines in partnership with Zijin Golden Ridge Limited to help young female students to have access to menstrual hygiene products and education.

The donation was also to enable them to manage their periods with confidence and dignity over the next eight months.

Speaking at the ceremony to officially launch the initiative last Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, said the 'Purple Peach Project initiative' goes beyond distributing sanitary towels but seeks to empower and inspire future leaders by breaking down barriers to their health and education.

That, he stated, would enable them to pursue their future dreams without any problem or interruption.

Stay in school

Dr Ashigbey said many young girls throughout the country continued to miss classes because they could not afford to buy menstrual hygiene products to enable them to stay in school at all times to learn.

He said the initiative reflected the Chamber's commitment to responsible mining, indicating that the industry’s contribution should be extended beyond mineral extraction to improve the socio-economic well-being of the people in host mining communities.

Dr Ashigbey indicated that the initiative also contributed to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal three on good health and well-being, Goal four on quality education, Goal five on gender equality and Goal six on water and sanitation.

For his part, the Senior Manager in charge of Sustainability and External Relations at Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, Derek Boateng, said the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) extended beyond its mining operations and such support to young female students was a step in the right direction.