The taxation of sanitary pads has been roundly denounced as a “cardinal sin” by Speaker of the House Alban Bagbin.
A petition seeking the elimination of tariffs on sanitary pads was filed to the legislative body, which brought the problem to their notice.
The speaker stressed the need to solve the critical issue immediately and emphasised his profound discontent with the taxation strategy.
He questioned the justification for enacting a law that levies taxes on necessary feminine hygiene items, claiming that it was outrageous and would have far-reaching effects on the development of human resources.
The speaker promised to take immediate action to address the issue after obtaining a copy of the petition and vowed to stop such taxes from being included in the upcoming budget.
He firmly asserted that the levy on sanitary pads is unjustified and needs to be eliminated right away.
The speaker’s comments follow a recent demonstration organised by a coalition of civil society organisations calling for the government to repeal its tax on sanitary napkins.
The group highlighted the impact of the 12.5 per cent value-added tax (VAT) and the 20 per cent import tax on the affordability of sanitary pads, making them inaccessible for a significant portion of Ghana’s female population, which constitutes 51 per cent of the country’s total inhabitants.
The coalition’s spokesperson, Ama Pratt, reaffirmed their steadfast resolve to carrying out their actions until the government abolishes the taxes.
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), however, has issued a warning against eliminating these tariffs, claiming that it will have a negative impact on the country’s economy.
The AGI has strongly cautioned the Akufo-Addo administration, advising them to think carefully before eliminating taxes on imported sanitary napkins at the expense of domestic producers.
The association made the case that such a move would be harmful to the country’s overall economic stability.