PAD TAX IN GHANA INSENSITIVE AND A HINDRANCE TO MENSTRAL HYGIENE

As a foundation whose main focus is to make life easy and make people live comfortably, it has become a pressing need to collaboratively work with the media to draw the attention of the government, agencies and the general public in recent hike in prices of Sanitary Products in the country. It is evident that inflation is on the rise every day which affects virtually every aspect of our lives.

Data from different sources indicates that menstrual hygiene is one major concern in the world which needs rapt attention and commitment of every country to improve the life of women and girl child. In recent months, Ghana and other countries have had economic crisis which every government is working to bring under control. The continues rise of inflations has influenced the prices of goods and services in adverse ways which has equally affect the prices of sanitary wears in the country. The prices per pack of sanitary pads ranges between 12gh and 17gh depending on the brand.

These prices are extremely high for teenage girls and even women within the country to afford hence throwing some into many other challenges such as psychological trauma especially when they are about to have their menses. The government of Ghana considers sanitary pads as luxury thereby taxing it 20% import tax and 12.5% VAT which is making it difficult for low-income households to afford thereby resulting to the use of rugs, baby diapers and toilet rolls during their menses.

Research shows that the use of these materials exposes the girls and women into contracting several infections and also affect their reproductive health in the long run. There have been many advocates within the last three years for the government to removed the taxes place on sanitary pads but all to no avail. For example, there was a six-month-long campaign dubbed #NOPADTAX campaign in 2020 to remove the taxes on sanitary pads to make it affordable to the ordinary Ghanaian but we are yet to see the effect of that meanwhile Dr. Mahamudu Bawumiah responded to the advocacy message promising Ghanaians that his government will remove those taxes. How does the ordinary Ghanaian whose minimum wage is less than 15gh per day be able to afford these products in this economic distress the country if currently facing when prices of necessities are on the rise daily?

The Emefa Foundation seeks to engage with the media and all relevant stakeholders of the country to appeal to the government to eliminate the taxes on sanitary products to make it more affordable to the ordinary Ghanaian girls. Countries like South Africa, Kenya and Rwanda have eliminated tax on sanitary wears and Ghana government can do same to reduces the stress on young girls and women in the country.

We hope that this call to save our girls and women will be address in the shortest possible time.

Signed:

Yvette Emefa Gbeve

CEO:Emefa Foundation

(0249888007)

Perpetual Senu

PRO:Emefa Foundation

(0241157054)