News
Make sanitary products affordable for all – CSO platform on SDGs urges government
The Ghana CSOs Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has appealed to the government to help make sanitary products affordable to all women and girls.
Sanitary products currently attract 32.5 per cent tax on imported sanitary pads, which is made up of 20 per cent import duty and 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax.
A statement signed by Ms. Levlyn Konadu Levlyn, National Coordinator of the Platform urged the Ministry of Finance and the government to “as a matter of urgency scrap the import tax on sanitary pads and reclassify the product as ‘essential social goods’ which is Zero rated.”
The Platform again urged African countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa to remove taxes on the same products.
The statement was issued in commemoration of this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day themed: “Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030.”
“Women’s and adolescent girls’ ability to care for their bodies while menstruating is, an essential part of this fundamental human right. Poor menstrual health and hygiene therefore, represent an affront to this right, including the right to work and go to school,” the Platform noted.
It maintained that insufficient resources to manage menstruation, such as sanitary pads and clean water, worsened the already existing social and economic inequalities and undermines the dignity and confidence of girls and women”.
The Platform, therefore, called for comprehensive effort aimed at making sanitary products affordable and intensifying public education on menstruation.
While calling for policies that eliminate “period poverty,” the organisation again urged the media to continue encouraging open dialogue on menstruation and help break the stigma.
The Ghana CSOs Platform on the SDGs aims is to contribute to “building a fairer, healthier, gender-responsive Ghana that acknowledges and works towards achieving the vision for sanitation and hygiene under Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
By Spectator Reporter
News
Ghana Tourism Authority welcomes new CEO, Maame Efua Houadjeto
Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has officially welcomed its new Chief Executive Officer(CEO),Maame Efua Houadjeto who was recently appointed by the President.
This took place during a brief ceremony at the GTA Head Office in Accra today.
She succeeds former CEO Akwasi Agyeman, who resigned after eight years of outstanding leadership.
In her new role, Maame Efua will focus on expanding and strengthening industry collaborations while advocating for sustainable tourism initiatives.
She is committed to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity within the organization.
“I am honored to join Ghana Tourism Authority at this pivotal moment,” Maame Efua Houadjeto said.
“The institution has a rich history of promoting Ghana as a premier travel destination and ensuring industry excellence. I look forward to working with the talented team to further elevate our impact on the global tourism sector, ” she added.
Maame Efua will focus on expanding and strengthening industry collaborations while advocating for sustainable tourism initiatives in her new role. She is committed to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity within the organization.
Prior to joining GTA, Maame Efua Houadjeto served as the CEO of Image Consortium Group, Managing Director, and Creative Director of IE Design.
She was also the General Manager of MPlaza Hotel in 2002, bringing with her a wealth of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry.
News
Dr. Nii Moi Thompson Chairs the National Development Commission,Kwadwo Twum Boafo heads Financial Intelligence Center.
Development Economist Dr. Nii Moi Thompson has been appointed as Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, pending consultations with the Council of State.
Dr Thompson previously served as the Director-General of the Commission, overseeing the preparation of the country’s 40-Year Development Plan.
From 2014 to 2015, Dr Thompson led Ghana’s technical delegations to the UN to develop the SDGs and subsequently guided their integration into Ghana’s national development agenda.
As chairman of the Commission, he will collaborate more closely with the Minister for Finance, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, the Government Statistician, and other presidential appointees and representatives from the sixteen regions to provide strategic advice to the President and Parliament for Ghana’s development.
In a related development, President John Dramani Mahama has also appointed Mr Albert Kwadwo Twum Boafo as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) while awaiting the reconstitution of the Board.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read full statement below
