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Youth Activist urges govt to remove tax on sanitary pad

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Tahiru Lukman, a Development Consultant and Youth Activist, has called on the government to remove the tax imposed on imported sanitary pads. He said the tax on the products is making the product inaccessible to poor and vulnerable women and girls across the country.

According to him, the lack of political will to increase access and price affordability is the single most critical factor that makes young girls more vulnerable.

“It is recommended to the government that for the time being, taxes on sanitary pad importation should be removed. A price decrease would increase the number of girls and vulnerable women who could not be able to afford it, while we advance lasting solutions to ensure all girls and women will have access to the sanitary pad at all times and places.”

He said there is enough evidence to suggest that most girls who could not afford sanitary pads are more vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

“The latest study conducted by the Upper West Regional Youth Parliament in the Wa East District revealed that 83% of adolescent girls’ trade sex for sanitary pads is enough to suggest that, girls are left to the faith to respond to the demand of keeping and maintaining menstrual hygiene and health.”

Mr Lukman observed that “in the era of civilization and globalization, Ghana is yet to show a strong commitment to improving menstrual hygiene and health.”

He says Ghana would not be able to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Goal 6 which “aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The commitment of global leaders to water and sanitation is critical to the health of people and the planet and for that matter, if Ghana continues to provide lip services, the country will be off track to achieving SDG Goal 6.”

Mr. Lukman said the government must renew its commitment to promoting safe menstrual hygiene and health among adolescent girls and vulnerable women.

In a related development, Safe Menstruation Movement, a non-governmental organization based in the Upper East Region, also called on the New Patriotic Party government to fulfil its 2020 manifesto promise by scrapping 20% Luxury Tax on sanitary products.

On Saturday 22nd, August, 2020, at Cape Coast in the Central Region whiles giving highlights of the NPP’s manifesto the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said the New Patriotic Party Government intends to scrap the 20 percent luxury tax on imported sanitary pads if its mandate is extended by Ghanaians during the December polls.

According to Dr. Bawumia, scrapping the levy will reduce the cost of imported sanitary pads in the country.

Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Osuman Kaapore Tahiru|Ghana

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