The National Tripartite Committee (NTC) has announced a 10% increase in Ghana’s National Daily Minimum Wage (NDMW) for 2025, raising it from GH₵18.15 to GH₵19.97. The new wage takes effect on March 1, 2025, and applies to all establishments, institutions, and organisations.
Announcing the decision in Accra on Thursday, February 20, Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo stated: “There has been an increase in the national daily minimum wage by 10 per cent over the 2024 National Daily Minimum Wage, which translates into a new national daily minimum wage of 19.97 Cedis. The effective date for the implementation of the 2025 minimum wage shall be the first of March 2025. All establishments, institutions, or organisations whose daily minimum wages are below the new wage should adjust accordingly.”
The NTC also recommended that the new wage be tax-exempt to ensure that workers receive the full benefits of the increase. Additionally, the committee confirmed an adjustment in the public sector salary structure. “That the Base Pay on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) has been increased by 10% across board from January 2025 to December 2025,” a communique from the NTC read.
This latest wage revision follows previous increments, with the 2024 minimum wage set at GH₵18.15, up from GH₵14.88 in 2023. Meanwhile, public sector workers received a 15% salary increment last year.
The wage hike is part of ongoing efforts to balance fair compensation for workers with economic stability. The government has urged all employers to comply with the new directive to ensure better working conditions for the Ghanaian workforce.
Also, the government has authorized a 10% salary increment for public sector employees under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) for the 2025 fiscal year.
This adjustment, which takes effect from January 1, 2025, will remain in place until December 2025.
The agreement, finalized on February 20, stemmed from negotiations between the government—represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment, and the Ministry of Finance—and Organized Labour.
It emerged from extensive discussions within the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee, involving key labor unions and public sector institutions.
The deal was formally ratified by Ing. Benjamin Arthur, Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission; Bro. Joshua Ansah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress; Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister for Labour, Jobs, and Employment; Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, Chairman of FORUM; and Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Minister of Finance.
This latest salary adjustment follows a 23% increase in 2024, which was introduced to cushion workers from the effects of economic challenges and rising living costs. The new increment aims to provide some financial respite to public sector employees as they navigate the economic realities of 2025.
However, with economic growth slowing and the government adhering to an IMF-backed fiscal consolidation plan, officials took a more restrained approach in 2025 to avoid placing additional pressure on public finances.
Although labor unions have accepted the deal, many members remain dissatisfied, arguing that the increment does not adequately address rising living costs.
