A packet of 15 sanitary towels costs 112 cedis, but the actual cost is inflated due to multiple sanitary towel taxes. With levies like GETFUND (2.5%), COVID Levy (1%), NHIL (2.5%), and VAT (15%), women end up paying over 21% more than the base price. These additional sanitary towel taxes have turned a basic necessity into a financial burden for many women in Ghana.
For women, especially low-income earners, the cost of managing monthly cycles has become prohibitive. The need for one to two packets per cycle means that sanitary towel taxes place a recurring strain on already stretched budgets. Advocacy groups argue that these taxes are unfair, perpetuating financial inequalities and making menstrual hygiene products inaccessible to many.
In rural areas, where incomes are lower, sanitary towel taxes exacerbate existing barriers to accessing menstrual hygiene products. Women are often forced to rely on unhygienic alternatives, putting their health at risk. The breakdown of these taxes, which include GETFUND and NHIL, highlights how public levies are applied to essential items without regard for their impact on vulnerable populations.
Globally, countries like Kenya and Scotland have abolished taxes on menstrual hygiene products, recognizing their essential nature. Activists in Ghana are calling for similar action, emphasizing that removing sanitary towel taxes would promote gender equity and public health. Such reforms could ease financial burdens and ensure that women across all socio-economic backgrounds can access necessary products.
Moreover, addressing sanitary towel taxes aligns with Ghana’s broader goals of achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality. Eliminating these taxes would signal the government’s commitment to prioritizing the dignity and health of women, fostering a more equitable society.
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Until the government addresses the economic and moral implications of sanitary taxes, menstruation will remain an unfairly costly affair for countless women in Ghana.
