Samson Asaki Awingobit, IEAG Executive Secretary
The Importers and Exporters Association IEAG will like to commend the speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumani Bagbin for his bold stance on challenging members of the house to help him waive taxes on imported sanitary pads.
There have been growing concerns about the draconian taxes imposed on imported sanitary pads, which has seen prices of such products shooting up abnormally.
This has contributed to most young girls from poor homes who cannot afford it resorting to the use of unhygienic practices during their menstrual cycle.
As an association, we were taken aback by a statement from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) who had called on the government not to reverse the taxes on sanitary pads.
The AGI should have rather explained to Ghanaians how they intend to meet the high demands for sanitary pads at a cheaper rate, rather than encouraging the government to maintain taxes on a commodity that is patronized by both the poor and the rich except for the largely vulnerable group who cannot afford it.
However, a renewed sense of hope has been felt with the stance taken by the speaker of Parliament to ensure these taxes are waived. We commend the speaker for such a bold statement and equally urge members of both sides of the August House to support the speaker in this unprecedented feat which will go a long way in the annals of the country’s history.
We also urge Importers of these products to do their best to ensure prices are reduced to the barest minimum should there be a waiver in taxes.
Signed
Samson Asaki Awingobit
