The imposition of tariffs on sanitary pads has drawn harsh criticism from Speaker of the House Alban Sumana Bagbin, who called it a “cardinal sin.”
Through a petition requesting the repeal of tariffs on sanitary pads, a number of civil society groups brought the problem to the attention of Parliament.
The Speaker stressed the necessity for prompt government action to solve this issue as he expressed his profound disappointment with the taxing of sanitary pads.
“The issue they raise is a very serious issue, why have we passed a law imposing taxes on sanitary pads? This is unconscionable, it is a cardinal sin. The House shouldn’t have allowed it at all. You know the impact of that law on human resource development is immeasurable.
“I have a copy of the petition, and I am going to take immediate action to prevent whoever is the minister proposing that thing to take it off. The next budget it must not appear, it cannot be a tax.”
Following a demonstration by a number of civil society organizations calling for the government to stop taxing sanitary pads, the Speaker made his remarks.
The organization claims that the price of sanitary pads has significantly increased due to the 12.5 percent value-added tax (VAT) and the 20 percent import tax, making them expensive for many women, who make up 51 percent of Ghana’s population.
Ama Pratt, a spokesman for the organisation, said that they will continue to lobby for the government to eliminate the levies.
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) warned against doing away with the levies despite growing demand from various parties to do so, claiming that doing so would have disastrous effects on the country’s economy.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Joseph Asare
