New Minimum Wage Announced: GH¢25.04 a Day in 2027, GH¢28.79 in 2028 — But Ghanaians Are Asking

The National Tripartite Committee has unanimously agreed on a new National Daily Minimum Wage, setting it at GH¢25.04 for 2027 and GH¢28.79 for 2028. The announcement, shared by GHOne TV, means that the lowest-paid workers in the country will see their daily earnings go up over the next two years. The committee, which brings together representatives of government, employers, and organised labour, reached the agreement after negotiations. However, the news has sparked a wave of reactions online, with many Ghanaians questioning whether the new figures are enough to cope with the rising cost of living.

For many people commenting on the announcement, the first reaction was confusion. Some asked whether the amount is per hour or per day, while others wanted the figures broken down to understand what it means in real terms. One commenter noted that GH¢25.04 a day works out to about GH¢750 a month, asking, “What can that do?” Others pointed out that in a country where houses are sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, a daily minimum wage of just over GH¢25 seems out of touch with reality. These reactions show that while the committee may have reached an agreement, ordinary workers are not convinced the new rates will make a real difference in their lives.

The comments also raised questions about fairness. One user pointed out that the minimum wage increase represents about a 15% rise, yet government workers received only an 8% salary increase. This, the commenter argued, puts pressure on private institutions to pay more while the government does not apply the same standard to its own employees. Others simply expressed frustration with the timing, questioning why the announcement covers 2027 and 2028 when people are struggling now. For many, the gap between the promises of the committee and the reality on the ground is hard to ignore.

The debate reflects a deeper concern about how minimum wage decisions are made and whether they truly reflect the cost of living in Ghana. The National Tripartite Committee is meant to balance the interests of workers, employers, and the economy, but when the agreed figures are seen as too low, the public reaction is swift and blunt. Small businesses may also feel the pressure, as they are expected to pay the new rates even if their revenues have not grown.