What Ghana's constitution says about 'realistic living wages' compared to 'minimum wage'

The Dean of the UPSA Law School, Professor Kofi Abotsi, has provided some context on what Ghana's constitution says regarding the mandate of employers when it comes to wages and salaries.

In a post shared via X, formerly Twitter, the law professor said that the constitution mandates that employers pay 'realistic wages' to workers.

He further made a case by stating that "realistic wage is 'living' not 'minimum' wage."

Prof. Abotsi wrote that "Ghana's constitution mandates employers to pay 'realistic wages' to workers. Realistic wage is 'living' not 'minimum' wage."

His latest comments come in response to growing concerns among the majority of Ghanaian workers who believe their current wages and salaries are unrealistic and does not align with the current dynamics of the Ghanaian economy.

With inflation having surged to 54.1 percent in 2022, the disposable income and purchasing power of many Ghanaians have significantly declined in the past few years, leaving many employees with meager salaries to survive.

In January 2024, the government announced an increment to the minimum wage from GH¢14.88 to GH¢18.15. While this is commendable, many still believe that the current economic challenges in the country, coupled with inflationary pressures and increased taxes, makes it difficult for Ghanaian workers to survive on their current salaries and wages.

Ghana’s constitution mandates the employers to pay “ realistic wages”to workers. Realistic wage is “living” not “ minimum” wage.

— Prof. E. Kofi Abotsi (@ProfAbotsi) September 3, 2024

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