‘Could You’ appeals to gov’t to scrap taxes on sanitary pads

A non-governmental organization, ‘Could You’ has appealed to the government to scrap taxes on sanitary pads.

Government currently charges about 33 per cent in a luxury tax and VAT on sanitary pads.

But the NGO observed the situation is denying girls in rural areas the use of sanitary pads due to the hike in prices of the product.

A pack of sanitary pads which used to be sold at 5 cedis last year has seen its price double and now sells at 10 Ghana cedis in 2022.

A teacher at Asisiriwa D/A JHS, Mary Akayini says, “some girls in the area sleep with men in exchange for money to buy pads. They do this because of the high price of the pad”.

‘Could You’ appeals to government to scrap taxes on sanitary pads

As part of activities to mark this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Could You, distributed 150 menstrual cups to some pupils in the Bosome Freho district.

Menstrual cups, unlike sanitary pads, are reusable and will help girls save money.

Nsiah Princess is one of the beneficiaries of the menstrual cups donated by Could You 2-months ago.

“Now I don’t buy sanitary pads again because of the menstrual cup and I have been able to save a little money as well,” she noted.

‘Could You’ appeals to government to scrap taxes on sanitary pads

”Could You” wants government to scrap taxes on sanitary pads to make it affordable to teenagers in rural areas.

“We have been working with the girls in this community for over a year and one problem we have identified is they lack access to menstrual hygiene products and menstrual awareness,” Kofi Kyeremateng Nyanteng, Country Director of Could You, said.

“We’re working with girls in rural communities to address menstrual poverty through our menstrual cups and education initiative. We want the government to scrap off taxes so that girls in the rural areas can afford it”.

‘Could You’ appeals to government to scrap taxes on sanitary pads Anna Sefakor Afua Dotse, the project nurse, educated girls on the need to use a menstrual cup.

According to her “the cup can last for 10 years as compared to the pad,” she revealed.