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Gender Equality, Tax Justice campaign launched

 A Gender Equality and Tax Justice campaign cham­pioned by Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NE­TRIGHT) has been launched in Accra on Tuesday.

It seeks to empower Civil So­ciety Organisations and the media to advocate gender-responsive tax system that ensures equal opportu­nities and resources for all citizens.

The Head, NETRIGHT Secre­tariat, Ms Patricia Blankson Akak­po, said NETRIGHT in partner­ship with the Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) was implementing a three-year project titled ‘Scaling up Tax Justice III’ (SCUT III).

She said the TJNA-initiated project was an Africa regional-level tax justice campaign being imple­mented in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Liberia, Senegal, Cameroun and Tunisia.

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Ms Akakpo said the project sought to improve policies and laws to track and stop illicit finan­cial flows (IFFs), enhancing fair and equitable tax revenue mobil­isation and strengthening social contracts.

She said NETRIGHT’s work on SCUT III would focus on advanc­ing gender equitable tax regime by promoting fair and transparent tax system.

“With the support of trained tax justice champions, local commu­nities will be engaged in gender equality and tax-related matters and encourage citizen participation in governance and tax-related deci­sions,” she said.

In addition, Ms Akakpo said the project intended to engage and influence policymakers to enact gender-responsive tax policies to address the specific needs and chal­lenges faced by women in Ghana.

“We aim to ignite a broader conversation and mobilise action towards reforming our tax system and seek to build a society where every woman and man, regardless of their background or circum­stances, can thrive and contribute to the betterment of their commu­nities and our society,” she said.

She added that her outfit would engage Parliament and other key stakeholders, including working with the Ghana Chapter of the African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT).

According to her, taxation had implications on everything from the distribution of wealth and resources to access to quality healthcare and education, empow­erment of women and marginal­ised communities, to the overall well-being of the nation.

Ms Akakpo said gender equality was not merely a matter of social justice but a prerequisite for sus­tainable and inclusive development, adding that fair taxation, served as a cornerstone of any functioning society, funding essential public services for the progress and pros­perity of all.

 BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG

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