Eco-taxes and sanitary pad levies: Drawing parallels between Ghana and Kenya
Protesters in Kenya have launched what they describe as”7 Days of Rage” with street marches against a controversial finance bill proposing new tax hikes.
The protests have led to the deaths of at least five people in Kenya, with part of the parliament building set ablaze in Nairobi.
Protesters say the bill would impose unaffordable tax increases on ordinary citizens and businesses, who are already burdened by the high cost of living.
Police fired live rounds at protesters on Tuesday, June 25, leading to several deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The government has dropped some contentious proposals, but protestors want the bill scrapped.
The original bill proposed an eco-levy(charge on products that contribute to waste and harm the environment), a key provision of the bill that the government has now suggested amendments to.
Critics pointed out that it would increase the cost of essential items such as sanitary pads. They said many girls who are already unable to afford these products often miss school during their periods.
However, the government said the levy would apply only to imported products.
The eco levy was also aimed at digital products, including mobile phones, cameras and recording equipment.
However, many Kenyans rely on these products, which are essential to the digital economy, for their livelihoods.
In Ghana, the eco-levy took effect in early 2024, sparking mixed reactions.
The government now requires Ghanaians to pay an annual levy on the carbon emissions produced by their petrol—or diesel-powered vehicles.
Several citizens have opposed the charge, which they see as an added burden amid an ongoing economic crisis.
Civil society organisations said the government was “not being sensitive” by imposing the levy on top of already-existing fuel and road-use taxes.
The union of commercial and public transport providers has also criticized the levy and said it was not consulted by the government.
The union planned to hike transport charges by as much as 60% to reflect the levy’s added costs, but this was later revised to 10%.
Ghana is the third African country to introduce a form of carbon tax, after South Africa and Mauritius.
Kenya could’ve become the fourth country, but the dent of their persevered protest has hooked them off.
On November 15, 2023, some protesters wearing red and holding placards gathered in front of the Ghanaian parliament to demonstrate against the government’s taxes on sanitary pads.
The protestors, many women’s rights activists and concerned citizens chanted slogans and held up signs that read “No tax on periods” and “Access to menstrual hygiene is a right.”
They urged former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to reverse the imposition of taxes on sanitary pads in the government’s budget.
A tax-free was then imposed on locally manufactured sanitary products to the detriment of imported ones.
Now that the bill has been passed, President William Ruto can either sign it into law within 14 days or send it back to parliament with a proposal for further amendments.