The challenging economic time has affected everything in the country including sanitary pads. This can be attributed to high import duties and high cost of raw materials. The prices of sanitary pads have shot up from five cedis to 10 cedis in the market.
The fight to end period poverty in Ghana has taken a nosedive as prices of sanitary pads have made it a hindrance for some women to get access. As a result of this, some young girls are unable to use hygienic products during menstruation. Some of these young girls have resorted to the use of rags while others have to trade their bodies just to get money to pay sanitary pads.
Menstruation is a natural phenomenon in the life of every woman. It happens every month in the life of every woman who has reached puberty.
It usually lasts between two to seven days. It only stops when a woman reaches menopause thus there is a need for every woman to prepare adequately for it every month. Sanitary pads are therefore considered as necessity goods.
In Ghana, there is a 20 percent luxury tax and an additional 12.5 percent VAT on sanitary pads thus ballooning the prices.
However, countries like Rwanda and South Africa have canceled sanitary pad taxes.
According to UNESCO, most girls are absent from school for four days in a month and end up losing 13 learning days equivalent in every school term.”
In an academic year of nine months, a girl may lose 39 learning days equivalent to six weeks of learning time due to the lack of sanitary pads.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in one of his speeches, said government was working on removing import duties on sanitary pads but we are yet to see it happen.
The government must therefore expedite action in ensuring that the girl-child is eased of that financial burden aside from all other implications associated with menstruation.
Bainamultimedia/Aynawu Alhassan Adam
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