Africa-Press – Gambia. Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Seedy Keita, has announced that the government will remove import duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on imported sanitary pads as part of efforts to improve access to menstrual hygiene products for women and girls.
Delivering the 2026 Budget Speech on Friday, Minister Keita said the policy aims to reduce both economic and health disparities associated with menstrual hygiene, particularly for school-going girls.
“Hygiene for Women and Girls, the Government will eliminate import duty and VAT on imported sanitary pads. This measure is aimed at addressing both economic and health disparities related to menstrual hygiene for school-going girls, by improving access to sanitary pads, and lower retail prices,” he said.
He added that the initiative is designed to ease the financial burden on girls and women while promoting proper menstrual care. The government will periodically review the policy to ensure it achieves the desired outcomes.
In the same address, Minister Keita announced that the government will begin strict enforcement of annual land rent payments starting January 1, 2026.
Citing low compliance levels, he said the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, will fully enforce provisions of the State Lands Act of 1991.
“To this end, with effect from January 1st, 2026, all land lease documents used as collateral in the Commercial Banks or other financial institutions shall be deemed null and void if the Annual Land Lease Rental payments are not fulfilled,” he said.
He further noted that financial institutions holding land lease documents as collateral must ensure that clients comply with required payments, warning that non-compliance will lead to the nullification of the lease by the responsible minister.
“Therefore, all Commercial Banks or other financial institutions holding land lease documents as collateral are required to ensure that annual land lease rentals are fully paid. Failure of which, the Minister responsible for Lands and Regional Government and Religious Affairs will nullify the lease,” he said.
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