Ghana sets a National Daily Minimum Wage, agreed annually by the National Tripartite Committee — government, organised labour and employers.
How it is set
The NTC negotiates the rate under Section 113(1)(a) of Act 651. It applies to all categories of workers.
Because it is revised annually, confirm the current figure with the Labour Department before relying on any published number, including this page.
Paying below it is an offence
An employer who pays below the NDMW commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine or imprisonment.
Workers may report violations to the Labour Department or the National Labour Commission.
Free zones
Employers in a free zone area must also be guided by ILO conventions in determining wages, rights and other conditions.
Working hours
The standard is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
Overtime — and the gap
Work beyond standard hours is overtime, customarily compensated at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate.
But here is the important detail: Act 651 does not itself specify a statutory overtime rate. What the Act requires is that employers establish overtime pay rates before requiring overtime work.
So the 1.5x figure is common practice rather than a statutory floor. If your employer has not set a rate in advance and is requiring overtime, that is a compliance issue.
You cannot be forced to work overtime
Workers cannot be compelled to work overtime except where necessary for the viability of the enterprise or in emergencies.
And you cannot be required to work more than 48 hours per week including overtime.
Night work
Night shift work is compensated at a premium and is regulated under specific safety and labour provisions.
If overtime goes unpaid
Employers who require overtime without compensation commit an offence under Act 651 and may be prosecuted.