Amnesty International Ghana calls for the removal of Tax on Pads


 Amnesty International Ghana on 11th October 2024, celebrating International Day of the Girl Child, has called on the government to remove tax from sanitary products due to lack of patronage of sanitary pads by young girls .


Speaking in an interview the Country Director for Amnesty International Ghana Genevieve Partington stated that "we are calling on the government of Ghana to actually remove tax completely from sanitary products.Currently as we speak, sanitary products are taxed as a luxury good, and this is really not the best. 


   "And you can imagine the young girls across the country who use cement paper,  cloth, you know, just any banana leaves, anything that they can find. " she stated 


She further urged that government really needs to look at this, because unfortunately when women do not have access to sanitary products,  then they don't want to go to school, "then, you know, not going to school means they are likely to stay at home, then that means they're not going to get good jobs.  It's a vicious cycle, "she stated 

 

In addition, Madam Genevieve Partington indicated that the celebration is to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child under the theme, Girls' Vision for the Future. 


Moreover  Amnesty has decided to continue with the menstrual hygiene theme, which is period poverty, a more period-friendly Ghana.


"So today we, you know, opened an art exhibition that looks at, you know,  period-friendly Ghana, period poverty within the country."


 the art exhibition considered ten artists showcasing their work,  and displaying art which depict period-friendly Ghana and what young girls go through during their menstruation, access to water, access to sanitary products,



 Furthermore, Amnesty International Ghana even wishes that sanitary products,  especially sanitary pads, were completely free for young women  up to a certain age to help young women access sanitary pads better

She revealed that Amnesty International Ghana would continue  to advocate around period poverty through working in a coalition. 


"We also have a bill in Parliament which has not yet been presented, but it's being pushed by Honorable Sosu, MP of Medina  and some other MPs I'm aware of that have already started  the drafting stage of the bill to remove tax from sanitary pads and promote domestic production" she assured.


the winner of the Maiden Edition of the Menstrual Arts Competition organised  by Amnesty Ghana Angelina Ampofo Asumeni, who also attended the occasion, expressed her excitement and thanked Amnesty International Ghana for the opportunity to talk about menstruation, period hygiene 


" The fact that menstruation is a natural bodily function in women and there's nothing to be shy about when it comes to menstruation.  What about the whole idea of your arts? Okay, so normally, my paintings are pieces that I make to highlight what animates women, " she noted


"So when I saw the opening call by Amnesty International it was just exactly what I needed  at that time because I got a chance to talk about something that's really personal to women so that is kind of what inspired me to make the piece I made" she emphasized.


Also, the theme for the competition, which was a period-friendly Ghana, is also an inspiration . 


She further called on all girls to join the chart. "So what I invite you to a girl chat online, get resources and do your own research," she advised  


Reported by Azaglo Michael

 

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