By Seth Danquah
Takoradi, March 14, GNA – A cross-section of residents in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have suggested to the government to remove taxes on sanitary pads instead of providing free supplies, as Dr Carsely Ato Forson, Minister of Finance, recently stated in the 2025 Budget.
The 2025 Budget stated that the government would procure and supply sanitary pads to young girls in the schools for GH¢ 292.4 million.
The proposal to provide free sanitary pads to schoolgirls has been met with scepticism by some residents in the metropolis, who argued that it was unsustainable and might not be the most effective solution to addressing menstrual hygiene.
Madam Ama Danso, a businesswoman indicated that taxes on sanitary pads were driving the prices high not that people could not afford.
She said if the taxes are removed, everyone can buy and use, making them more accessible and affordable for everyone.
Madam Danso pointed out that providing free sanitary pads might create dependency and undermine the local manufacturing industry and might also breed corruption and wasteful spending.
“We don’t want free sanitary pads; we want the government to remove the taxes on sanitary pads so that they become affordable for everyone. The current taxes on sanitary pads make them unaffordable for many women and girls, leading to menstrual hygiene management challenges”, she added.
According to her, “we should be promoting local manufacturing of sanitary pads and creating jobs, rather than relying on imports and handouts”.
Mr Francis Dwomoh a businessman also noted that removing taxes on sanitary pads would increase accessibility and affordability, especially for low-income households since it was a more sustainable solution than providing free sanitary pads.
Mr Peter Bismark of ILAPI Ghana highlighted the need for a more strategic approach to addressing menstrual hygiene management in Ghana, one that prioritised sustainability, affordability, and accessibility.
He questioned, “Why can’t the girls buy the sanitary pads themselves? Because it’s expensive. Who and what have made the pads expensive? The government has made it expensive by taxing the pads, driving the prices high.”
He wondered why the government was providing free pads after putting lots of taxes on it and said the government was the problem, not that people could not afford and that if the taxes were removed, everyone could buy and use.
He maintained that the government should be taken out of the procurement and supply of sanitary pads since the move could breed corruption and wasteful spending.
GNA
JP/GRB