The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has blamed members of the House for passing a law to impose tax on sanitary pads adding that it is a cardinal sin.

Some CSOs petitioned parliament on Thursday, June 22, 2023, urging that taxes on sanitary pads be removed to reduce the cost.

Expressing his deep dissatisfaction with the taxation of sanitary pads, the Speaker emphasized the need for immediate government action to address this concern.

“The issue they raise is a very serious issue, why have we passed a law imposing taxes on sanitary pads? This is unconscionable, it is a cardinal sin. The House shouldn’t have allowed it at all. You know the impact of that law on human resource development is immeasurable.

“I have a copy of the petition, and I am going to take immediate action to prevent whoever is the minister proposing that thing to take it off. The next budget it must not appear, it cannot be a tax”, the speaker stressed.

According to the group, the 12.5 percent value-added tax (VAT) and the 20 percent import tax on sanitary pads have caused a significant increase in prices, making them unaffordable for many women who make up 51 percent of Ghana’s population.

Speaking on behalf of the group, spokesperson Ama Pratt stated that they would persist in their efforts to have the taxes abolished by the government.

Despite various groups opposing the taxes and calling for its removal, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has warned government against the move adding that it would have a negative impact on the economy.

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah