EWN Participates in National Dialogue on Taxation and Gender Equity under the WEE Project
As part of our ongoing commitment to gender-responsive advocacy, the Executive Women Network (EWN) participated in a stakeholder engagement under the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Project, led by the University of Ghana.
The session focused on the impact of taxation and tax policy on women, bringing together a diverse group of participants including representatives from government ministries, departments and agencies, market women, academia, and civil society organizations.
The meeting was both insightful and solution-oriented, shedding light on how Ghana’s taxation systems affect women—particularly those in informal sectors. Discussions were driven by research findings, Q&A sessions, and outcomes from group work.
Key Insights and Outcomes
- 1. Imposed Tax Reforms
Ghana’s tax policies have historically followed a top-down approach, with changes communicated after implementation, rather than through a consultative process involving stakeholders. - 2. Absence of Explicit Gender Considerations
While tax policies are not explicitly gendered—meaning there are no gender-specific tax incentives or penalties—there are implicit gendered effects in the way policies are structured and applied. - 3. Implicit Gender Bias in Tax Systems
- The complexity of tax systems (e.g., digital portals) disadvantages many women, especially those in informal sectors or with limited education.
- Levies paid in marketplaces, predominantly by women, are underrecognized in formal tax frameworks.
- Revenue collection agencies often adopt intimidating approaches, which can discourage voluntary compliance.
- Women bear a disproportionate burden of indirect taxes, as primary consumers for household goods.
- Unpaid care work, which limits women’s earning capacity, is not accounted for in tax considerations.
- 4. Behavioral and Systemic Change Needed
- There is a need for attitudinal change toward taxation to improve compliance.
- Widespread tax education is crucial for improving awareness and willingness to pay.
- Greater transparency from government on tax utilization would enhance taxpayer confidence.
- 5. Call for Equitable Taxation
Participants emphasized the importance of equity in taxation to ensure fair treatment across gender and income levels. - 6. Proposed Revisions to Tax Policy
- Reduce VAT from 15% to 12.5%.
- Reassess the calculation base for VAT by excluding GETFund and NHIL levies from the taxable amount.
- Abolish the COVID-19 levy, as it is no longer relevant.
EWN’s Advocacy Commitment
EWN’s participation in this session reinforces our advocacy for inclusive and equitable economic policies. We remain committed to amplifying women’s voices in national policy discourse and working collaboratively toward systems that support women’s empowerment at every level of society.