Elimination of tax on sanitary pads laudable

It is wonderful news and incredibly refreshing that the government is elimi­nating the tax on sanitary pads.

This will make the prod­uct more affordable for young adolescent girls and women, which will ulti­mately reduce menstrua­tion poverty.

As part of the 2024 Budget Statement that was delivered in Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minis­ter Ken Ofori-Atta declared that sanitary pads will no longer be subject to tax.

“Mr. Speaker, “The imple­mentation of the following reliefs has been prioritised, including Zero rate VAT on locally produced sanitary pads,” the Finance Minister announced.

According to him, “This decision to scrap taxes on sanitary pads reflects our commitment to addressing women’s health needs and promoting gender equali­ty.”

The action is undoubtedly important in the fight for gender equality as it would better manage menstrual hygiene, meet the specific healthcare needs of wom­en, and lessen the financial burden on women and girls,

Additionally, the deci­sion to remove the tax on locally produced sanitary pads would undoubtedly spur producers to increase output, which will benefit the economy of the nation.

Women’s rights groups, health campaigners, and manufacturers who have long pushed for the exemp­tion of sanitary pads from taxes applauded the news.

The Spectator also joined the advocacy demanding the government to waive the tax on sanitary pads and to help women and adolescent girls by lower­ing the cost and increasing the accessibility of sanitary pads.

We hope that the removal of tax on sanitary pads will open the door for other policies that put women’s health and wellbeing first.

The Spectator continues to urge individuals, wom­en activists, institutions, Non-Governmental Organ­isations (NGOs), and other well-meaning Ghanaians to keep providing menstrual hygiene products to women and teenage girls across the country in order to improve their lives.

The Spectator calls on the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to ensure that producers of sanitary pads reduce the price of their goods as soon as the policy goes into effect in order to support the overall growth and development of the nation’s economy.

The government must also sustain the provision of water, sanitary facilities, and hygienic amenities (WASH) in order to retain girls in school.