Founder and Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Dr. Hassan Abdulai Ayariga, has called for an end to poverty wages in Ghana, insisting that Ghanaian workers deserve better wages, better lives and economic dignity.
In a strong-worded statement issued today, Dr. Ayariga said it is unacceptable that in a country blessed with gold, oil, cocoa, fertile lands, natural resources and hardworking citizens, millions of Ghanaians still struggle to afford three decent meals a day.
Ghana is not a poor country. Ghana is a country blessed with gold, oil, cocoa, fertile lands, natural resources and hardworking citizens. Yet millions of Ghanaians continue to struggle to afford three decent meals a day, pay their rent, educate their children and provide basic necessities for their families.
How can a worker spend eight hours or more working every day and still be unable to feed his or her family?
How can we continue to celebrate economic growth when the very people producing that growth are living in poverty?
*What is the value of economic development if the ordinary Ghanaian worker cannot enjoy a decent standard of living?*
“I, Dr. Hassan Abdulai Ayariga, have consistently maintained that Ghana must build an economy that rewards hard work, protects workers and guarantees economic dignity”.
That is why I proposed increasing Ghana’s minimum daily wage from GH₵18.15 to between GH₵150 and GH₵300, through a carefully structured and sustainable economic transformation programme.
This is not merely about increasing salaries. It is about changing the economic destiny of Ghanaian workers.
I believe that:
1. No hardworking Ghanaian should live in extreme poverty while contributing to national development.
2. Workers must receive wages that reflect the real cost of living, including food, accommodation, transportation, healthcare and education.
3. Ghanaian businesses must be empowered to pay better wages through affordable financing, lower production costs, reliable electricity and policies that support local industries.
4. Our natural resources must create wealth for Ghanaians, not simply generate profits for foreign companies while our people struggle.
5. Productivity, industrialisation and job creation must form the foundation of sustainable wage increases, supported by responsible economic management.*
I am fully aware that increasing wages without increasing productivity, supporting businesses and controlling inflation could undermine the very workers we seek to protect.
*That is why my vision is not simply to announce higher wages. It is to build an economy capable of sustaining them.*
GHANA MUST MOVE FROM CHEAP LABOUR TO VALUABLE LABOUR!*
We cannot continue to build an economy where politicians enjoy privileges, executives receive generous benefits, and ordinary workers are expected to survive on wages that barely cover their transportation and daily meals.
A nation cannot become prosperous when its workers remain poor.
A country cannot develop sustainably when its citizens lack purchasing power.
And an economy cannot thrive when the majority of its people cannot afford the goods and services produced within it.
THE TIME HAS COME TO PUT GHANAIAN WORKERS FIRST!
Our farmers deserve better incomes. Our teachers deserve better wages. Our nurses, security personnel, artisans, drivers, cleaners, factory workers and all hardworking Ghanaians deserve economic dignity.
The APC believes that national development must be measured not only by roads, buildings and economic statistics, but also by the quality of life of ordinary citizens.
GH₵150 TO GH₵300 MINIMUM DAILY WAGE IS OUR AMBITION A TARGET TO BE ACHIEVED THROUGH ECONOMIC REFORM, PRODUCTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION.
By Sampson Kumag Ifeetwube Elvis
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