Sanitary pads attract 20% import tax levy in Ghana under the Harmonized Code (HS code 9619002900) of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Since time immemorial the Ghana Government has taxed every menstruating Ghanaian 20% every time we get our period. Our periods earn the government millions of Ghana Cedis each year!
And how can a bodily function be taxed?
Meanwhile, condoms attract no taxes in Ghana.
So what about the reproductive health and hygiene of millions of Ghanaian women and young girls. Is this not important too?
Women and girls don't buy Sanitary Pads for pleasure.
It's never a luxury to experience your period monthly.
According to the Ghana Revenue Authority Guidelines, Sanitary Pads are considered as luxury goods. Like Really?
Period Poverty is high in Ghana. Our school going girls are missing classes, working class women are missing work schedules because of period poverty.
If you are pushing the girl child to school, try to help her stay in School.
Reduce taxes on Sanitary Pads or scrap it off totally. Government must provide free Sanitary Pads to rural girls.
Our girls deserve better.
Consider Sanitary Pads as Essential goods.
We those into girl child education are confronted daily with girls under heavy financial burden when it comes to managing their periods. They miss classes.
Period poverty is so real that, some girls use socks, old dresses and newspapers as sanitary pads. The hygienic condition of this is even reserved for another day.
Should we pay expensively for being women?
Should our girls feel inferior because of biological changes?
Updates
April 4, 2019
Reaching this new level of support feels heavy because it reminds me that so many people are suffering under the weight of this tax. I am exhausted by the fight but knowing I am not alone makes it impossible to turn back now.
32 Comments
I suggest, the tax is totally scraped of. All girls both in rural and urban have to pay less for sanitary pads. And I second government providing girls with these to prevent absenteeism from school when they are in their period.
This is outright insensitivity and wrong judgment! Why should women be the ones to always bear the large chunk of the brunts?!
Please tax should be lifted off sanitary pad to enhance its availability in both rural and urban settlements.
Menstruation more than feeding is a basic necessity for women. No woman must pay too much just to keep herself clean during her period. Free Sanitary pads is my call. Zero Tax to SP
Hmmmmm I'm really sad about this... This taxes should be scrapped so our girls would be in school.....The future is not promised without them
This tax is unconscioable, cruel, and misogynistic.
This initiative is laudable and it should be implemented
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Sanitary pads attract 20% import tax levy in Ghana under the Harmonized Code (HS code 9619002900) of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Since time immemorial the Ghana Government has taxed every menstruating Ghanaian 20% every time we get our period. Our periods earn the government millions of Ghana Cedis each year!
And how can a bodily function be taxed?
Meanwhile, condoms attract no taxes in Ghana.
So what about the reproductive health and hygiene of millions of Ghanaian women and young girls. Is this not important too?
Women and girls don't buy Sanitary Pads for pleasure.
It's never a luxury to experience your period monthly.
According to the Ghana Revenue Authority Guidelines, Sanitary Pads are considered as luxury goods. Like Really?
Period Poverty is high in Ghana. Our school going girls are missing classes, working class women are missing work schedules because of period poverty.
If you are pushing the girl child to school, try to help her stay in School.
Reduce taxes on Sanitary Pads or scrap it off totally. Government must provide free Sanitary Pads to rural girls.
Our girls deserve better.
Consider Sanitary Pads as Essential goods.
We those into girl child education are confronted daily with girls under heavy financial burden when it comes to managing their periods. They miss classes.
Period poverty is so real that, some girls use socks, old dresses and newspapers as sanitary pads. The hygienic condition of this is even reserved for another day.
Should we pay expensively for being women?
Should our girls feel inferior because of biological changes?
Updates
April 4, 2019
Reaching this new level of support feels heavy because it reminds me that so many people are suffering under the weight of this tax. I am exhausted by the fight but knowing I am not alone makes it impossible to turn back now.
32 Comments
This should be concided, sex is a choice, menstruation is not. If there is something that needs to be taxed it should be condoms not sanitary pads.
I suggest, the tax is totally scraped of. All girls both in rural and urban have to pay less for sanitary pads. And I second government providing girls with these to prevent absenteeism from school when they are in their period.
This is outright insensitivity and wrong judgment! Why should women be the ones to always bear the large chunk of the brunts?!
Please tax should be lifted off sanitary pad to enhance its availability in both rural and urban settlements.
Menstruation more than feeding is a basic necessity for women. No woman must pay too much just to keep herself clean during her period. Free Sanitary pads is my call. Zero Tax to SP
Hmmmmm I'm really sad about this... This taxes should be scrapped so our girls would be in school.....The future is not promised without them
This tax is unconscioable, cruel, and misogynistic.
This initiative is laudable and it should be implemented
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This should be concided, sex is a choice, menstruation is not. If there is something that needs to be taxed it should be condoms not sanitary pads.