GHANA— The Lady Pharmacist Association of Ghana (LAPAG) has called upon the Ghanaian government to reconsider the imposition of a 20% import tax on sanitary hygiene products.

In addition, the association has appealed for these products to be exempted from the 12.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) and for price control mechanisms to be implemented, ensuring that these essential items become more affordable and accessible to all.

This call to action has gained momentum due to the unfortunate circumstances faced by school-going girls who are forced to miss school due to the exorbitant cost of sanitary pads.

At an event held at the Garden City and Deduako special schools, the LAPG expressed their concerns and provided free sanitary products to the girls in attendance.

This gesture aimed to ensure a safe and hygienic menstrual period for the girls during their four-month stay on campus.

Tragically, many female students who cannot afford sanitary pads resort to using unhygienic alternatives such as cloth, towels, or even toilet paper during their periods.

The LAPG emphasizes that the menstrual experience in Ghana remains expensive, primarily due to the taxes imposed on sanitary pads.

Thus, they strongly urge the government to remove these taxes, alleviating the burden on women and girls.

Dr. Marian El Boakye-Gyasi, the Project Lead for the LAPG Menstrual Hygiene project, explains that providing sanitary pads to these schools is part of the group’s annual corporate activities to support the less privileged.

She emphasizes that by supplying these pads, the schools can better allocate their tight budgets to other essential needs, and the girls will no longer feel excluded or left behind.

Furthermore, the association calls upon the government to foster a positive and supportive environment that allows menstruating girls and women to fully participate in all aspects of life.

This includes providing comprehensive reproductive health education, focusing on puberty and menstruation, to both boys and girls in schools.

Additionally, there is a need for improved sanitation infrastructure, including handwashing facilities, proper disposal mechanisms, and privacy, to address the challenges faced by menstruating girls.

The LAPG takes this opportunity to commend activists, political leaders, governments, NGOs, donor agencies, and others who have been working towards making sanitary products more accessible.

They highlight the importance of not only reducing taxes but also implementing measures such as subsidies or free distribution.

Addressing the issue of menstrual shame is crucial. According to a 2020 UNICEF survey, 18% of young girls in Ghana miss school during menstruation, with pain and fear of leaking cited as the main reasons.

The report also reveals that girls face difficulties discussing their menstruation challenges with their teachers, and cultural taboos restrict their participation in certain activities while menstruating, such as fetching water, engaging in religious activities, or cooking.

It is essential to address these issues and create an inclusive and supportive environment for menstruating individuals.

Across the globe, individuals and organizations are advocating for the reduction or elimination of unfair taxes on menstrual products.

Kenya became the first country to scrap VAT on sanitary pads and tampons in 2004, and since then, at least 17 countries have followed suit, as per research conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Additionally, ten countries have designated sanitary products as tax-exempt goods or have exempted the tax on imported raw materials used in their production.

Notably, Mexico, Britain, and Namibia are among the latest countries to pass laws abolishing the tampon tax.

It is crucial for Ghana to join this global movement, recognizing the importance of accessible and affordable sanitary hygiene products for the well-being and empowerment of women and girls.

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