Features
Menstruation at high cost in Ghana?
It may sound funny, astonishing, scaring, irrelevant and surprising, but in an actual sense, this is exactly what is being considered in a country with a population of over 33.4 million Ghanaians, of whom 16.4 million are women (according to the 2021 Population Census), who cannot avoid going through the mandatory menstrual cycle, popularly referred to as ‘period’, in their lifetime. Unless otherwise, which can be attributed to sickness on the part of women and, therefore, obstructs their menstrual cycles, almost all women created by the Almighty God cannot escape menstruation.
PROTEST BY WOMEN ON HIGH TAX
On June 22, Ghanaian activists, mostly women, took to the streets of Accra for what they termed, “Don’t Tax My Period” demonstration and placard march. The protest took place against the heavy taxation of menstrual hygiene products. Organised by the Women’s Wing of the Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) in collaboration with some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Yebetumi and Obaasima, the demonstration was aimed at drawing Ghanaians and, for that matter, the government’s attention to the pervasive issue of period poverty.
The protestors, we are told, marched to parliament while it was in session, where the Speaker, the honorable Alban Sumani Bagbin, had to pause the on-going session to meet with their delegation over their demands. Astonished and amazed by the concerns of the protestors, Speaker Bagbin assured the protestors that their concerns would be given serious consideration with a positive response to their demands as early as possible.
SPEAKER’S REACTION TO TAXES
The protestors have vowed to return to the streets if taxes on menstrual hygiene products are not removed. Meanwhile, the Speaker, we are told, has described the taxes on sanitary pads as unfair. “Imposing taxes on sanitary pads was a cardinal sin,” says Speaker Bagbin in the front-page headline of the Daily Searchlight newspaper on June 23, 2023.
For the benefit of those, especially the opposite sex (men), who do not understand what ‘period poverty’ means. Let me summarize it in one sentence for them to be informed since my work as a journalist is simply to educate, inform and entertain the people about what is going on around them in the public space. ‘Period poverty’ is simply a situation in which women and girls from deprived backgrounds are too poor to afford the hygienic sanitary products needed to protect themselves during their menstruation.
POVERTY-STRICKEN RURAL COMMUNITIES
Just imagine the poverty-stricken rural communities across the country where people are finding it very difficult to make ends meet. Apart from the availability of foodstuffs from farm gates and bush meat, the people live in perpetual poverty as they cannot afford luxury items to supplement whatever they have to rely on. Even how to cater for their children’s education has been a major problem for parents and guardians. How much more the imposition of huge taxes of 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) and 20 per cent import duty on sanitary products due to what is being termed escalating prices on the shipment of these products? Even vulnerable women and girls in the urban communities in the country are finding the cost of living very difficult to cope with the situation; how much more the rural folks?
AGI POSITION ON HIGH TAXATION
It is worthy of note that the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is kicking against the removal of duties on imported sanitary pads, explaining that any policy by the government that seeks to remove taxes on the imported sanitary pads at the expense of local manufacturers of the products would be very detrimental to the economy. “Our young women deserve affordable sanitary pads, but granting tax waivers on imported sanitary pads is not the way to go. We caution the government not to play to the gallery, rather stay focused on its industrial transformation agenda by incentivizing local manufacturers rather than imports,” says the AGI.
In fact, there are many, including this writer, who are highly disappointed with the standpoint and argument of the AGI, describing the association as being selfish and not sympathetic to our vulnerable women and girls in society. Some are of the opinion that they should rather urge the government to remove the taxes and give contracts to local manufacturers to produce the sanitary pads so that the government would absorb the payments and distribute them free of charge to our children in schools. Some schools of thought think that advising the government not to play to the gallery means the AGI is not sympathetic to the cause of the poor and vulnerable in society.
COUNTRIES THAT SUPPLY PADS FREELY
It is a fact that in other jurisdictions in the world, especially in Africa, such as Kenya, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, these menstruation period products are provided free of charge to these vulnerable women and school girls, just because of their essence and the fact that the majority of them cannot simply afford these products. We are being told that since most parents in the rural areas of Ghana cannot afford these sanitary pads for their children in school, most of them have resorted to the use of unorthodox and unhygienic means such as using leaves from tree branches to protect themselves from excessive bleeding. We need not subscribe to some of these unhealthy practices to the detriment of our women and the little ones.
Let us not downplay this all-important issue because women, who are an important segment of society, need to be adored and cherished because of their vital roles, especially in the upbringing of children. They must therefore be supported in all aspects of daily life so that they can fulfill their avowed duty in society with distinction. Never should they be looked down upon in matters that will promote their welfare and enhance their progress.
PARLIAMENT SENSIBILITY ON WOMEN’S PLIGHT
Our lawmakers, led by Speaker Bagbin, have shown their sensibility to the plight of this vulnerable and underprivileged group and are ready to ensure that these high taxes are not imposed on them unduly to deprive them of their womanhood. The august parliament deserves commendation, and it is the expectation of Ghanaians that the house will live up to its promise of making life comfortable for our women and girls in society.
Just as most Ghanaians have suggested, parliament must liaise with the Executive arm of government to enact laws that will encourage the support and promotion of our local industries so that they produce these sanitary pads and other menstruation products locally, so as to discourage the importation of these products and bring down taxes to the barest minimum. In so doing, our underprivileged women and girls will be relieved of the unnecessary financial burden.
The issue of menstruation for women is certainly not negotiable because it is what God has ordained, and they must endure and go through the process without hindrance whatsoever. There should be no impediment in their way whatsoever as they go through this excruciating and painful moment in their lives. We salute you all, women, for your toil and sacrifice, which are not in vain!
By Charles Neequaye
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
HYPERLINK “mailto:ataani2000@ yahoo.com” ataani2000@yahoo.com
0277753946/0248933366
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THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
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