Women caucus urges gov’t to implement scrapped VAT on locally manufactured sanitary pads

The National Democratic Congress, Minority Women Caucus in Parliament, has urged the government to implement the scrapping of Value Added Tax (VAT) on locally manufactured sanitary pads as announced.  

Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ada, also urged the government to “walk the talk by not taxing the blood of women through taxes.” 

Ms Cudjoe made the statement on Monday when the Caucus embarked on an industrial tour to Sunda Ghana, a subsidiary of Sunda International manufacturers of (Softcare sanitary pads) and Fay International Limited (FIL), formally, Faytex both local manufacturers of sanitary pads in Accra to ascertain how they operate and the challenges they faced in their line of work. 

Among the delegation were Ms Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, NDC MP for Tempane; Mrs Gizella Akushika, NDC MP for Awutu Senya West; students from the University of Ghana, City Campus; students from Accra Technical University and some businesswomen. 

Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister for Finance in presenting the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government to Parliament on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, intimated that the government had prioritised removing taxes on locally produced sanitary pads.  

According to him, the government had decided to categorise VAT on locally produced sanitary pads into the zero-rated zone. 

Mr Ofori-Atta added that the government would also be scrapping import duty on raw materials for the local manufacture of Sanitary pads.  

The two exemptions were among the eight announced by Mr Ofori-Atta. 

Ms Cudjoe, also, the Deputy Minority Whip and the First Vice President of the Women’s Caucus in Parliament said that the affordability and availability of sanitary pads were a fundamental necessity for health, dignity, and access to education.  

“The call for the elimination of import duties and Value Added Tax is rooted in the belief that financial barriers should not deny anyone their basic human right to menstrual hygiene,” she said. 

On his part, Mr Micheal Ye Wei, the Managing Director of Sunda Ghana, said the company produced 600 million pieces of sanitary pads per year and 400 million pieces of panty liners per year.