I have been mulling over contemporary issues that would have drawn the fury of parents in those days. Discussing sanitary pads in the public domain?
How dare you? The topic itself would not sneak its way into your mouth, and test your verbal discretion. Other parts of the brain would rise to censure it ahead of temptations.
These days sanitary pads are discussed on the radio and TV. Ebei. Our mother Ama Ata Aidoo would probably have interjected, wonoa no den na wamben? Defying translation.
That sacred thing is being taxed by a greedy tax collector? As in all such matters, only one side of the story is told. When did that insensitivity begin? And why tax something above the means of poor school kids, etc? The fuller story of importing something made in Ghana is something never told. I even dread to repeat the word here.
One past female minister helped us all out and avoided loud public discussions. She advocated and implemented free supplies of the something to school girls of puberty age. That quietened all the waters.
If the free SHS can afford it, let’s follow suit and arrest ‘unspeakables’ in the public domain. Simply add it to the government bill in rural schools.
Oh, but I am probably wrong. Let’s avoid the entire topic of taxes on that sacred something.
There must be an old lady in every household in Ghana. Let’s simply ask abrewa. How did you handle the monthly female cycle those days? What did you wear in those days to avoid public spillage; and how did you wear it? That red cloth called something something. Were special taxes applicable? Where are the waist beads to hold the something firmly?
Dear Ghana, while we wait for GRA, let’s avoid the loud discussion on sanitary pads. Simply 'bisa abrewa'.
******
Contact the author Kwesi Yankah at kwyankah@yahoo.com
Latest Stories
-
Forex barrier broken as Brij Technologies demos currency swap at Africa 3i Summit
1 min -
Chidi Odinkalu: Judges and political mating games
4 mins -
UK’s post-Brexit border arrangements to cost $6bn
16 mins -
Dominican Republic president declares himself winner in election
19 mins -
Labourer convicted for stealing mobile phone
32 mins -
Let’s appreciate progress made under Fourth Republic – NCCE
33 mins -
Apple slashes iPhone prices in China amid fierce Huawei competition
42 mins -
Dr Dwomoa Adu, the first black Consultant Nephrologist in the UK
42 mins -
US to complete withdrawal from Niger by Sept. 15
45 mins -
Global Media Alliance donates to Korle Bu NICU to mark Mother’s Day celebration
50 mins -
Iran declares five days of mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi
55 mins -
‘I’m never going to drink tap water again’ – Woman describes symptoms after parasite attack
1 hour -
Academic City’s Prof McBagonluri receives top engineering honour
1 hour -
Netanyahu denounces bid to arrest him over Gaza war
1 hour -
Knife attack in China’s Guixi city primary school leaves two dead
1 hour