Ghana’s Silent Backbone: The Fight for Fair Pay in Sanitation
In the early morning haze, long before most of us sip our first cup of coffee,
thousands of sanitation workers are already knee-deep in work—sweeping,
collecting trash, keeping cities moving and clean. They work quietly, mostly
unnoticed. But right now, one man is making sure they’re not ignored anymore.
Basitale, a bold voice in Ghana's activist scene, is calling out Zoomlion Ghana
Limited for paying these essential workers just GH250 a month—barely $20. In a
country where inflation keeps climbing and daily survival gets harder, that
wage feels like an insult. He didn’t sugarcoat it—he called it “evil.”
This isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity.
A Job No One Talks About
Sanitation workers have one of the toughest jobs in Ghana. They clean up after
everyone else. Their hands touch the city’s filth, yet they’re the last to be
recognized. Often, they’re working without basic safety gear—no gloves, no
boots, no health insurance. And all this, for GH250 a month? That’s less than
what the law says they should make per day.
Imagine that. A full month’s work for less than GH300. The legal minimum is
GH16.23 per day—so why are these workers being paid about half that?
Basitale demand is simple: Pay them fairly. And treat them like they matter.
Because they do.
Where’s Zoomlion in All This?
Zoomlion is a big name in Ghana. They’ve got government contracts, handle
national waste management projects, and have been around for years. But when
the wage story hit the streets, they stayed quiet. No statement. No denial.
Nothing.
This silence isn’t sitting well with people. If you’re receiving public money,
shouldn’t you be held to public standards? If you’re employing thousands,
shouldn’t their well-being be part of your business plan?
Voices Rising Online
Not everyone supports Basilele’s campaign. Some claim it’s political. But
scroll through social media and you’ll see the real stories—people sharing how
they can’t feed their families or afford rent on GH250. The hashtag #FairWageForSanitationWorkers is
gaining steam.
Labor rights groups are weighing in too. The Ghana Federation of Labour is
pushing for better policies and a stronger union presence for workers who
usually don’t have a seat at the table.
The Real-Life Cost of Poverty
Ghana’s inflation hovered around 25% in 2023. Food, transport,
rent—everything’s up. A livable wage is estimated at GH1,200 a month. GH250
doesn’t come close.
Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of the population already lives below the poverty
line. This isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a moral one.
So, What Needs to Happen?
Basilele isn’t just shouting into the void. There’s a path forward:
Stronger Enforcement: The labor laws exist—make sure companies follow them.
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Transparency from Contractors: If a company’s being paid with taxpayer money, the public deserves to know how workers are treated.
Unions and Worker Power: Workers need protection. They need a voice.
Keep the Pressure On: Social media. Protests. Advocacy. Whatever it takes to make change happen.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t about politics or optics. It’s about the people cleaning your
neighborhood while you sleep. The ones risking their health so the rest of us
don’t have to. They deserve more than GH250. They deserve respect. Fair pay.
Protection. And most of all, they deserve to be seen.
What You Can Do
You can be part of the change. Share the stories. Tag the companies.
Write to your reps. Speak up. Because silence keeps injustice alive—and now’s
not the time to stay quiet.
Sources: Yen.com.gh, Ghana Statistical Service, World Bank, Ghana
Federation of Labour.*
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