Minimum Wage in Ghana 2026: GH₵21.77 a Day (2027 Update)

Ghana's national daily minimum wage for 2026 is GH₵21.77, a 9% rise on the 2025 rate of GH₵19.97. It applies from 1 January to 31 December 2026, and no employer in Ghana may pay a worker less than this for a day's work. Talks on 2027 pay opened on 15 October 2026. No new figure has been agreed yet.

Ghana minimum wage 2026 at a glance

Daily minimum wage (2026): GH₵21.77
Previous rate (2025): GH₵19.97, which applied from 1 March 2025
Increase: 9%
Valid: 1 January to 31 December 2026
Set by: the National Tripartite Committee, made up of government, employers and organised labour
Public sector base pay (2026): also up 9% for workers on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS)
2027 rate: talks are still going on, and no official figure has been announced

What GH₵21.77 a day means per month

The minimum wage is set as a daily rate. Monthly pay depends on how many days you are paid for. Here are two common ways to work it out. These are our own estimates, not official figures:

Paid for 26 working days: about GH₵566 a month (21.77 × 26)
Paid for 28 days (the method used in the official 2025 announcement): about GH₵610 a month (21.77 × 28)

If your contract gives a monthly salary, divide it by the days you are paid for. If the result is below GH₵21.77 a day, you are being paid less than the legal minimum.

Who the minimum wage covers

The national daily minimum wage is a floor for all workers in Ghana, in both the public and private sectors. When the 2025 rate was announced, the Tripartite Committee said anyone earning a salary or allowance must not be paid less than the daily minimum. It named house helps, nannies and security guards as examples. It also told establishments paying below the new rate to raise their pay, and warned that those who ignore it would be sanctioned under the law.

The minimum wage and the public sector base pay are two different things:

The national daily minimum wage is the lowest legal daily pay for any worker in Ghana.
The base pay is the starting salary on the Single Spine scale. It sets pay for government workers such as teachers, nurses and civil servants. Each year's base pay rise moves salaries across the whole public sector pay structure.

How the minimum wage is decided

The National Tripartite Committee (NTC) sets the rate under Section 113(1)(a) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). The committee has three sides:

Government, led by the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment
Employers, represented by the Ghana Employers' Association
Organised labour, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC)

The 2026 rates were agreed on 9 November 2025. Government signed through the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ministry of Finance, with organised labour on the other side. Base pay talks for public sector workers run through the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiation Committee (PSJSNC), which the FWSC coordinates.

Recent minimum wage history in Ghana

2020: GH₵11.82
2021: GH₵12.53 (+6%)
2022: GH₵13.53 (+8%)
2023: GH₵14.88 (+10%)
2025: GH₵19.97 (+10% on the 2024 rate, from 1 March 2025)
2026: GH₵21.77 (+9%, from 1 January 2026)

2027 minimum wage and base pay: latest update

Here is where the 2027 talks stood on 21 October 2026:

Talks have started. The FWSC says negotiations on the 2027 base pay began on Thursday, 15 October 2026, in Accra. The PSJSNC met, and the Commission said talks would continue the following week.
No 6% deal. Social media posts claimed government had offered workers 6% for 2027. The FWSC dismissed this and said no official offer had been made. Treat any figure you see online as unconfirmed until the FWSC or the Labour Ministry announces it.
Labour wants a big rise. Organised labour argues that slower inflation has not brought prices down or restored workers' buying power. It says it will present evidence for a significant increase.
The budget sets the timing. Both sides are under pressure to agree before the 2027 Budget is presented. In past years the NTC set the new daily minimum wage around the same time as the base pay talks.

We will update this page when the 2027 figures are officially announced.

What to do if you are paid below the minimum wage

Check your pay. Divide your monthly pay by the days you work and compare the result with GH₵21.77.
Keep records. Hold on to your appointment letter or contract, payslips and any messages about pay.
Raise it with your employer in writing. Many underpayments get fixed once an employer sees the current rate.
Talk to your union, if you have one. Unions such as those under the TUC can take up pay complaints for their members.
Contact the Labour Department. The Labour Department under the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment handles complaints about employment conditions. The National Labour Commission deals with unresolved labour disputes.

Beware of "salary upgrade" and recruitment fee scams

Scammers often use pay news to target workers and job seekers. They may promise a "salary upgrade", a public sector posting or a recruitment slot for a "protocol" fee. Government recruitment and pay adjustments do not require you to pay anyone. Rely only on official sources such as the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (fairwages.gov.gh) and the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment. If someone asks you for money for a job, report it.

Looking for better-paid work in Ghana?

Use the minimum wage as your floor, not your target. Browse the latest jobs in Ghana or vacancies in Accra on Jobsiz. If you are a graduate, see our guide to NSS postings for 2026/2027. Teachers can read our update on GES teacher recruitment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Ghana in 2026?

GH₵21.77 per day, valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026. It is 9% higher than the 2025 rate of GH₵19.97.

How much is Ghana's minimum wage per month?

There is no official monthly figure for 2026, because the minimum wage is a daily rate. It works out to about GH₵566 for 26 paid days, or about GH₵610 using the 28-day method from the 2025 announcement.

Does the minimum wage apply to private sector workers?

Yes. It is a national minimum for all workers, including domestic workers such as house helps, nannies and security guards. It is not limited to government employees.

What will the minimum wage be in 2027?

It has not been announced yet. Talks on 2027 base pay began on 15 October 2026. The FWSC has denied reports of a 6% offer. Wait for an official FWSC or Labour Ministry announcement.

Who sets the minimum wage in Ghana?

The National Tripartite Committee, which brings together government, employers and organised labour. It sets the rate under Section 113(1)(a) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

Minimum Wage in Ghana 2026: GH₵21.77 a Day and What Comes Next for 2027