The Ghana Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Platform on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has called for strict market monitoring to ensure that recent tax exemptions on sanitary pads translate into real affordability and access for girls and women nationwide.It said, while the removal of taxes on locally produced sanitary pads announced last year, was a significant milestone, unequal retail pricing and limited access in deprived communities continue to threaten menstrual equity.Speaking during a roundtable discussion in Accra to mark Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, on the theme "A Period-Friendly World for Everyone", the coordinator of the platform, Levlyn Asiedu, urged accelerated efforts to translate policy gains into tangible impact.She recalled a 2023 petition by 111 member organisations that demanded the removal of taxes on both imported and locally produced sanitary pads, as well as the establishment of pad banks.Those demands, she noted, were based on evidence showing that some girls miss up to 60 school days annually due to a lack of menstrual products, while others resort to unsafe practices or relationships to manage their periods.While welcoming the government's fulfilment of its promise to remove taxes on locally produced pads and exempt raw materials used in their production from import duties, Ms Asiedu warned that market inconsistencies could undermine the policy's intended impact."Pads are still selling at unequal prices-GH¢15 in one shop, GH¢20 in another.
Without proper monitoring, this policy won't reach the girls who need it most," she said, calling on the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority to enhance market intelligence.She also urged CSOs and the media to help track pricing trends and push for accountability, while reiterating the need for pad banks, especially in rural and low-income communities.The Director of Pre-Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, Nana Baffour Awuah, emphasised the need for stronger policies to eliminate barriers that prevent schoolgirls from managing menstruation safely.He highlighted ongoing challenges such as stigma, poor sanitation, and limited access to sanitary products, and lauded the government's Free Sanitary Pads Initiative, which aims to distribute pads to over three million girls in public schools."The school environment must be safe, clean, and private.
There must be water and proper disposal systems," he said, calling for improved infrastructure and comprehensive menstrual education across all school levels.Mr Awuah also urged CSOs to continue advocating for stronger policies and encouraged parents, especially fathers, and teachers to normalise conversations about menstruation."Only 0.1 per cent of fathers talk to their children about menstruation, and that must change," he stated.Meanwhile, Archibald Adams, Communications Lead and member of the CSOs Platform, cautioned against bureaucratic delays in distributing sanitary pads to girls when needed.He called for a more flexible and accessible system to ensure timely delivery and impact.BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
