Editorial
Reduce taxes on sanitary products
Dear Editor,
Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) recently called on the Ministry of Finance to scrap taxes on sanitary pads as the taxes have made the product very “expensive and inaccessible to many low-income households.”
They further indicated that the high prices could in the long run have dire consequences on girls, especially those in schools and, therefore, maintained that the finance minister should factor the removal of the taxes in the 2021 budget.
But these appeals seem to have fallen on deaf ears as the budget presented to Parliament last month was silent on the removal of taxes. It is unfortunate that the prices of sanitary products keep increasing and I wonder if there would soon be any form of intervention.
The Population and Housing Census revealed that women constituted about 49 per cent of the country’s population so I thought the government would listen and take action on issues affecting women.
Although the budget could not capture this important concern, I want to urge stakeholders to keep pushing for a reduction in the prices of sanitary products and possibly stage a demonstration if the taxes on the product become unbearable.
The Gender Ministry, should among other things, lead this cause to help bring some relief to women who continue to battle other social and economic challenges.
Priscilla Efriyie Ankapong,
Cape Coast.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
