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Francis Sosu pushes for the removal of VAT on imported Pads, Extension of Maternity Leave and introduction of Paternity Leave
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu has held a one-day stakeholders briefing on the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on imported pads bills, extension of maternity leave to six months and introduction of paternity leave to support the newborn baby and the breastfeeding mother.
According to Mr. Sosu, the imposition of customs duty and import VAT on menstrual hygiene and other items poses a major challenge to women and girls, particularly those living in rural areas and deprived communities who need them to absorb or collect menstrual blood.
“Menstruation is a natural physiological phenomenon that occurs in adolescent girls and pre-menopausal women which urgently requires the use of hygienic sanitary napkins or tampons during that time of the month,” he stated.
At the stakeholders’ briefing that was held at Parliament yesterday which brought together representatives from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Amnesty International (AI), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Labour Commission (NLC), Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Attorney General’s Office and Head of Civil Service, the MP for Madina argued that menstruation demands the accessibility to good sanitary napkins at affordable prices by both women and girls of menstruation age and requires the practice of good personal hygiene.
He was of the view that just like it is easy to access toilet rolls at various public washrooms the time has come for stakeholders to fight for free pads for all.
Again, he insisted that the advocacy for free pads for all must start from somewhere hence the initiative for the Private Members Bill to amend sections of the Customs Bill 2023 and the Labour Bill 2024.
He indicated that when passed into law, the Bill will reduce the 20 percent customs duty as well as the 15 percent import VAT on imported sanitary towels (pads) and tampons including similar articles, napkins and liners for babies, incontinence pads for adults use and related items to zero percent customs duty and zero percent import VAT respectively.
On the issue of an extension for Maternity Leave and introduction of Paternity Leave, Professor Abigail Opoku Mensah, Director of Research & Consultancy Center noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a newborn’s life to ensure health outcomes for infants, however many mothers struggle to adhere to this recommendation due to short maternity leave duration.
“Currently the existing maternity leave of 12 weeks in Ghana is insufficient to allow for adequate recovery and bonding with newborn infants as recommended by WHO,” she added.
The many CSOs, traditional leaders, and individuals who attended the stakeholders briefing are all advocating the extension of maternity leave from the current three months to six months when the mother is still breastfeeding the baby.
For the official introduction of Paternity, the stakeholders were of the view that there is a cultural shift where many men are seen lately actively playing important roles in the life of their newborns and assisting their wives therefore amending the existing law to allow men to go on leave for two weeks or a month would be beneficial to the family.
Challenges of the private sector allowing their employees to go on leave for six months, whether a man married to two or more women is entitled to go on leave continuously should the wives give birth the same year and other challenges associated with the proposed Bill, Francis Sosu was advised to work with the drafters of the Bill to tighten it to address all the challenges highlighted during the stakeholders briefing.
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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