There is a culture of silence surrounding issues affecting Ghanaian women and girls, particularly their reproductive health. Consider, for instance, the ever-increasing price of sanitary pads, despite numerous studies demonstrating how it affects women’s health, social life, and the burden it puts on them economically.
Many women suffer in silence with some form of reproductive morbidity or illness as a result of the high price of pads. According to studies, most rural girls miss at least one week of school each month because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Some of them use unsafe and unhygienic materials during menstruation.
Admist these challenges The taxes on this necessary good are insane. It’s heartbreaking to know that about 32.5% of the money you spend on sanitary pads is a tax, which includes 12.5 VAT and a 20% import tax.
The average price of a pad today is 8 cedis, which means you pay the government 2.5 cedis for each pad you buy. How did we get here, where something that should be considered a necessity has been elevated to the status of a luxury item?
Unfortunately, people who are supposed to speak truth to power are silent. What good is the Gender and Children Ministry if it cannot ensure the basic well-being of women and girls in the country?
Women play an important role in our society and issues affecting them should not be shrouded in silence like we have today.
While it may appear extreme to demand free sanitary pads for all women, particularly students and those living in remote areas, given the current status of the economy, the government should eliminate the “k!ller tax” as soon as possible.
I am appealing to everyone to speak up for our sisters, daughters, and wives. They cannot face this discriminatory tax while we remain silent. They are deserving of our sympathy, empathy, care, and protection.
Source: Modern Ghana
