Some Ghanaians have criticized the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson for comparing Ghana to first-world country Canada.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture in an interview argued that if Ghanaians are complaining about the high cost of living especially rent in Ghana, they should visit Canada and verify for themselves and would come to the realization that things are very difficult in other countries as well.
“People have been complaining that rent is expensive in Ghana. They should go to Canada. For a month you pay over 2,000 Canadian dollars. That’s for a single room not even a chamber and hall. Things are hard now and there is a high cost of living everywhere and when you compare Ghana to other countries, Ghana is doing far better,” she noted in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on Onua FM’s morning show, Yɛn Nsɛmpa.
The National Tripartite Committee in line with Section 113 (1) (a) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), increased the national daily minimum wage in Ghana from GH₵14.88 to GH₵ 18.15 from January 1, 2024.
In Canada, the minimum wage per hour for the year 2024 is $16.50 which is equivalent to GH₵205.99.
Individuals who chanced on the viral video on X, formerly known as Twitter cautioned Hawa Koomson never to compare Ghana to any developed country like Canada since Canada is far better in all sectors and makes living conditions better for citizens.
Below are some of the responses from Ghanaians to the MP.
When they talk like this I ask myself, are these people thinking at all? Does Ghana come close to the conditions&amenities pple ve in Canada? Check their sewerage,garbage system, check their road infrastructure, their landscaping and parks, the air quality, transportation etc.
— WKHKYD? (@profdublyn_zee) February 21, 2024
How on earth will she compare the rent of Canada to that of Ghana. Is Canada’s economy the same as Ghana? Even if you pay that amount as rent in Canada, you can work your way out and still get some money. What about Ghana? Just job self you can’t find.
— Daily Dairies (@Francis_5050) February 21, 2024
How can you compare Ghana to Canada in what capacity can you say we are better than Canada or equal to them. Eii
— Hon. Rahman (@Rahman5060) February 21, 2024
Maybe rent in Kasoa is better!
— Francis Owusu (@fowusu) February 21, 2024
If such people are given the platform to pass such comment how can we move forward in this country…These are the people who are suppose to be our leaders oh making policies on our behalf and moving the country forward no wonder the economy is in a ditch 😪
— Jadon La Nieve Onemorni (@dcallito) February 20, 2024
Are we in Canada the amount of money they pay weekly or monthly there is that the same money we earn here in Ghana monthly
— BraKay (@Brakay1992) February 21, 2024
If that is the standard for comparison now, when we begin to talk about the economy, don’t tell us Russia Ukraine war. Very very weak argument. The day you begin to pay workers in Canadian dollars then we can come back n have this convo
— R (@Reubenish) February 21, 2024
Whenever it comes to hardship, we know how to compare with other advanced countries. But when it comes to good government policies, working conditions, infrastructure and other social amenities, we forget that we can equally make comparisons. hilarious….
— Patrick R. Teye 🍃 (@PatrickTeye2) February 21, 2024
Is she serious? How much do regular workers make per hour and how many hours do they need to pay rent? Use that same fraction to compare that of Ghana and see if it’s possible. Some politicians needs proper education.
— 𝕵𝖊𝖆𝖓 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕵𝖚𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖊*** 🦍 (@Just_Kabutey) February 21, 2024
Someone is making 12k a month and paying her mortgage so the majority of people who are struggling to make ends meet because of bad governance shouldn’t complain?
— Money Go Sweet (@slickeverywhere) February 21, 2024
When we compare ourselves to these developed countries it pains me a lot, why we should ask ourselves those countries their minimum wages and compare to our own why
— Klewiah Daniel (@klewiah_daniel) February 21, 2024
Canadians have enough jobs to cater for that…Sometimes comparing the western nations to Ghana by most of our learned people mostly make me think and ask, is it relevant giving people the needed power to rule us?
— Jackson Addo Majestical (@JackiMajestical) February 21, 2024
Sometimes these our leaders just say anything. You’re comparing Ghana to Canada? The minimum wage in Canada is 16.65 dollars per hour. How much do u pay ur people in Ghana here.
— ImmaNuel (@elniino_GH) February 21, 2024
Is the Minimum wage in Canada the same in this country? Instead of finding solutions to help build the country they just make unnecessary comparisons to make excuses smh
— kojoqube (@kojoqube) February 21, 2024