By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Datoko (U/E), Nov. 21, 2025 – The Ghana Chamber of Mines, in partnership with Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited (CNML), has donated sanitary pads to 500 school girls in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.
The gesture was part of the Purple Peach project, a major initiative by the Ghana Chamber of Mines, aimed at promoting menstrual health, dignity, and equal educational opportunities for girls in underserved communities.
At a brief ceremony to present the hygiene materials at Datoko, Ing. Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, emphasised the need to support girls to stay in school and achieve their full potential.
Dr Ashigbey said the initiative went beyond distributing sanitary towels, stressing that it aimed to ensure that “no girl is left behind because of a natural biological process,” describing menstrual health as a matter of dignity, confidence, and empowerment, underscoring the role of proper menstrual hygiene management in sustaining girls’ education.
“Ghana and Africa will only develop when we ensure that females also have equal opportunity to get to the very top,” he said.
The Purple Peach Project formed part of the Chamber’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility agenda that sought to provide free, safe, and sustainable menstrual hygiene products to girls, coupled with education on menstrual health and gender equality.
Dr Ashigbey reaffirmed that supporting menstrual health was key to achieving Sustainable Development Goal five, which puts emphasis on achieving gender equality, noting that “when we break the silence and stigma around menstruation, we unlock girls’ potential to thrive, learn, and lead.”
Dr Ashigbey said the project reaffirms the Chamber’s commitment to advancing the welfare of women and girls, particularly in mining-host communities saying, “This initiative shows that mining is not only an extractive enterprise but also a catalyst for social transformation.”
Dr Ashigbey said through the Ghana Chamber of Mines’ Tertiary Education Fund, over US$2million had been invested in educational infrastructure, bursaries, research grants, and training programmes since 2019.
He also cited transformative stories of beneficiaries, including a young woman whose university education was made possible after losing her father, and another who transitioned from community volunteer to full-time mine employee through industry support.
Dr Ashigbey commended CNML for its continuous investment in the Upper East Region, noting its strong partnership with local authorities and traditional leaders in education, health, skills training, and livelihoods.
He encouraged community members to work hand-in-hand with the mine to unlock the full development potential of the area, emphasising collaboration, capacity building, environmental protection, and a united stand against illegal mining.
Mr Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, the Chief Operating Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said the Ghana Chamber of Mines remained committed to supporting initiatives that promote dignity, education, and opportunity, because that was what responsible mining truly meant.
He described the Purple Peach initiative as one of the Chamber’s longest-running social responsibility programmes, which had operated for nearly a decade, empowering rural communities and school children.
Mr QI Xuanya, the Vice President of the CNML, reiterated the commitment of the company to the development of the area and called for stronger collaboration to improve upon the health and education of young people in the area.
He expressed hope that the gesture would go a long way to support girls to ensure menstrual hygiene and stay in school.
Madam Christiana Ayinezoya Azure, the Talensi District Director of the Ghana Education Service, commended the Ghana Chamber of Mines and CNML for the donation, stressing that the gesture would boost school attendance especially among the girls.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali / Christabel Addo