This blog is part of a series exploring the five demands of the 2025 Global Days of Action on Tax Justice for Women’s Rights.

By: Eugenia Ayagiba, Women’s Rights and Campaign Manager, ActionAid Ghana

During this year’s Global Days of Action on Tax Justice for Women’s Rights running from 7 to 21 March 2025, we must confront the role tax systems play in sustaining gender inequality and the pressing need for reform. At the heart of this conversation is the demand for tax policies that ensure those with the greatest ability pay more for public good and these funds must be redirected toward gender responsive public services. This is the essence of the campaign’s Demand 5 on ensuring gender equality in tax systems and public services: tax justice for women’s rights. 

 Tax systems often disproportionately burden women and marginalised groups. Many women, particularly those in informal work and low-income positions struggle under regressive tax structures such as the heavily relied on value-added tax (VAT). At the same time, corporate tax breaks and loopholes rob governments of vital income required to support basic public services. 

In Ghana, ActionAid has been at the forefront of advocating for a fairer, more progressive tax system. Our recent report, The Impact of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Policies on Tax Systems and Gender Equality in Ghana, highlights how IMF-driven austerity measures and regressive tax policies have exacerbated economic hardships for women. Cuts to public spending have most adversely affected sectors like healthcare, education, and social protection—sectors that are critical for gender equality. 

The Gendered Impact of Unfair Tax Systems 

We must change the tax system to one that prioritises equity and addresses key challenges that include: 

• Ensuring high-income earners and corporations pay their fair share: Like many nations in the Global South, Ghana loses billions in tax incentives and corporate tax avoidance annually. If high-income earners and companies were to pay their due amount, these funds could instead be used to finance the gender-responsive public services.  
• Reducing the tax burden on women and low-income groups: Women, especially those involved in unpaid and informal employment, suffer disproportionately from the significant reliance on VAT and indirect taxes.  
• Investing in gender-responsive public services: The revenue generated from progressive taxation should be focused on enhancing access to quality and affordable healthcare, education, and social protection.  
• Strengthening tax transparency and accountability Governments must tackle illegal financial flows and improve the transparency and accountability of their tax systems to stop revenue losses that undermine public service delivery. 

Taxing Fairly for Gender -Transformative Care 

The 2025 theme for the Global Days of Action, Progressive Taxation for an Inclusive and Just Social Organisation of Care, emphasises tax justice’s role in solving the care crisis. Care work—both paid and unpaid—is disproportionately carried out by women. Still, it’s underfunded and under-appreciated. The lack of public investment in care services places an overwhelming burden on women, limiting their capacity to participate in formal work and economic opportunities. 

Demanding tax reforms that acknowledge, minimise, share, and reclaim care work will help us to bring about a society where women’s contributions to the economy and society are adequately appreciated. The struggle for tax fairness is the struggle for gender justice! 

ActionAid Ghana’s Commitment 

At ActionAid Ghana, we are committed to advocating for progressive taxation and increased public investment in gender-responsive services. Through our research, campaigns, and policy engagements, we are working towards ensuring that Ghana’s tax system works for women, not against them. 

Joining the Global Days of Action, we urge legislators to act boldly in reforming tax laws to guarantee a more equitable distribution of resources. Since a fair tax system is the cornerstone of an equal society, we call on civil society, activists, and individuals to amplify the demand for tax justice. 

Join the Movement 

Change is possible through collective action. The Global Days of Action set for March 7-21, 2025 provides a critical platform for policy advocacy, public campaigns, or grassroots mobilisation: every action counts! Together, we can push for a tax system that prioritizes fairness and gender equality for all. Let’s #MakeTaxesWorkFor Women. Together, we can create a future where tax policies meet the needs of all, not just the privileged few!