Legal researcher and practitioner, Benjamin Tachie Antiedu has questioned what informed the classification of sanitary pads as a luxury good hence a luxury tax.

Per the Ghana Revenue Authority guidelines, sanitary pads are categorised as luxury products and, as a result, attract 20 percent tax on its importation.

Speaking to Francisca Kakra Forson, Saturday, Mr. Antiedu wondered what was taken into consideration before tagging the menstrual material as a luxury, arguing there’s nothing grandeur about pads used by women to absorb the monthly flow of blood during menstruation.

“It is not everything that you tax. Talking about the luxury tax, what’s luxury about pads?” Benjamin Tachie Antiedu, ESQ quizzed on Metro TV’s Inside Page.

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sarah Adwoa Safo, pledged to take necessary steps to address the tax on imported sanitary items.

“The needs of young girls are of utmost concern to me as a Minister and reducing the stigma around menstrual hygiene management is one that I take very seriously and that is why upon my assumption to office I have written to the Ministry of Finance for a direct follow up on the removal of the luxury tax on the import of sanitary items,” she stated.

“Given the challenges that women and girls face, it is important to promote Menstrual Hygiene Management towards safeguarding the dignity and integrity of women and girls to positively contribute to improved school performance,” Adwoa Safo said in a message to commemorate the 2021 Menstrual Hygiene Management Day on Friday.

By: Bernard Ralph Adams | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana