Gender Minister Calls for Gender-Sensitive Tax Policy to Support Vulnerable Women

Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor 

 

In a powerful address at the National Tax Forum 2025, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, highlighted the critical need for a more equitable tax system that recognizes the economic challenges faced by women in Ghana.

Speaking passionately about the intersection of taxation and gender equity, Dr. Lartey revealed that women, who comprise seven out of ten workers in the informal sector, are disproportionately disadvantaged by the current tax regime. The minister emphasized that many women earn just above the existing tax-free threshold, struggling to sustain themselves and their families while simultaneously bearing the burden of unpaid care work.

The minister's speech shed light on the stark economic realities facing Ghanaian families, where the average household spends more than half its income on food and transport. Parents are forced to make impossible choices between paying school fees, purchasing medicine, or providing basic meals.

Acknowledging the government's fiscal constraints, Dr. Lartey highlighted a recent positive step - increasing the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program allocation from 720 million to 953 million, expanding coverage to 400,000 vulnerable households nationwide.

"A tax system is not just about numbers," Dr. Lartey proclaimed, "it is about people. When women and vulnerable families are protected, the entire nation becomes stronger."

The minister called for a collaborative approach, urging civil society organizations and media partners to continue advocating for policies that are both fiscally responsible and socially just. She emphasized the government's commitment to President John Dramani Mahama's vision of leaving no one behind.

The forum represents a critical moment in Ghana's ongoing dialogue about economic equity, with the potential to reshape tax policies to better support the country's most vulnerable populations.

The comprehensive speech underscored the need for a nuanced approach to taxation that recognizes the unique challenges faced by women in Ghana's economic landscape.