The cost of sanitary pads is one of the challenges young girls in Ghana face during their time of the month. The prices of these pads have also shot up, and most girls in basic school are unable to purchase these sanitary pads to enable them to feel comfortable and secured during their time of the month.
These girls who are unable to afford sanitary pads resort to the use of rags, old cloths, sheets from their notebooks and sometimes polythene bags. The high cost of sanitary pads has made it impossible for these children to even go to school or move around freely during that time of the month.
One girl who spoke with a news agency stated that, every time she asked her mother for money to buy a pack of sanitary pads, her mother begins to sob and proceeds to cut off pieces of some old cloth for her to use. She also said that the days that she goes to school, she barely moves around and does not even go out for break.
Another girl also said that, “for us, we are a lot in the family, so when the time is due, my mum gives us T-rolls or rags.” She said “the pads are expensive and she cannot buy for all us girls.” Some teachers in these basic schools, practice the fine act of generosity by buying sanitary pads for these girls out of their own pockets, they said.
A teacher in one of the basic schools also mentioned that, one student of hers came to her and told her of an issue where someone had to sleep with her in order for her to get some money to buy a pack of sanitary pad.
The teacher whose identity was unknown further mentioned that the expenditure of pads from her own pockets are draining her financially, and it breaks her heart to see that some of these girls have to be taken advantage of to be able to get money to purchase a pad.
Teachers in these basic schools are appealing to the government for a national policy on sanitary pads to be initiated.
20% Slash On Sanitary Pads: Effective Or Not?
Meanwhile in August 2022, on the ticket of the NPP government, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, announced that there was going to be a 20% slash off imported sanitary pads in order to improve menstrual hygiene and make it possible for every girl to purchase.
MP for Ketu South, Abla Dzifa Gomashie has stated that there are a lot of prominent people who are championing the initiative. However, this promise has not yet been fulfilled and people are hoping that this initiative will be included in the 2023 budget.
“What infuriates me is that they are called luxury taxes, luxury taxes or VAT. All of these things I’m hoping that tomorrow [during the budget reading] we will hear clearly what government is doing about these taxes that shoots the prices of sanitary towels to levels where our girls are unable to afford them.”
Abla Dzifa Gomashie
Madam Gomashie stated that if matters got worse and there was still no response from the government, they may have to go on the street if that is the only way to get the attention of the government. She said that she was going to continue pushing for this initiative and it was not difficult for her to do so.
READ ALSO: Finance Minister To Lay Before Parliament The 2023 Budget Statement Today
