Accra Metropolitan Assembly Doubles Street Sweepers' Monthly Wages to GH₵800 to Professionalize Sanitation Sector

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced a significant 100 percent increase in the monthly allowance for street sweepers, raising their wages from GH₵400 to GH₵800. This strategic adjustment, announced by the Mayor of Accra, Michael Nii Kpakpo Allotey, is designed to enhance the livelihood of sanitation workers while addressing broader employment challenges within the capital. By doubling the compensation, the assembly aims to formalize the sanitation sector and make it a more viable career path for the Ghanaian workforce.

This wage hike is strategically aligned with the government’s 24-Hour Economy policy, which seeks to ensure continuous service delivery and economic activity across various sectors. Mayor Allotey emphasized that the initiative is intended to attract more youth to the sanitation workforce, effectively rebranding the role of street sweepers as a professional and respected occupation. The move is expected to provide more robust sanitation services throughout the city, supporting the assembly's goals for a cleaner and more efficient metropolitan area.

Beyond its immediate impact on workers, the AMA's decision serves as a call to action for other municipal assemblies across Ghana. Mayor Allotey encouraged local authorities to adopt similar wage improvements to help reduce national unemployment rates and provide living wages that reflect current economic conditions. With national inflation reported to be stabilizing at 3.8 percent in the context of this initiative, the wage adjustment represents a proactive step toward ensuring that frontline workers can sustain themselves while contributing to the nation's environmental health.