A new study conducted by Professor Smart Sarpong of Kumasi Technical University has revealed that the majority of salaried workers in Ghana are struggling to save, as rising living costs continue to outpace incomes.
According to the National Cost of Living Outlook Report for the first quarter of 2026, only 32.2 percent of salaried employees said they are able to put money aside, while 67.8 percent reported that their monthly expenses exceed their earnings.
The research surveyed 4,155 households across eight regions and identified low salary levels, particularly within the private sector, as a major factor behind the growing financial pressure on workers.
The report showed significant income disparities between public and private sector employees.
Although 95 percent of workers surveyed reportedly earn below GH₵5,000 a month, more than 36 percent said they earn less than GH₵1,000 monthly.
Among public sector workers, only 6.6 percent were found to earn below GH₵1,000, compared to 15.8 percent in the private sector.
The gap widened further in the lower-income bracket, with 58 percent of private sector employees earning below GH₵2,000, while the figure for public sector workers stood at 19.7 percent.
At the upper end of the salary scale, the report found that 55 percent of public sector workers earn more than GH₵4,000 monthly, compared to just 18.1 percent of private sector employees.
Beyond income levels, the study also highlighted worsening public sentiment about the affordability of life in Ghana.
At the close of the first quarter of 2026, only 14.4 percent of respondents described the cost of living as low, marking a sharp decline from the 68.8 percent recorded in 2025.
While 42.8 percent of participants said they had not noticed major changes compared to the previous year, the number of people who considered the cost of living to be high increased by three percent.
According to the report, electricity costs, public transportation and mobile services such as data bundles and call credit were among the biggest contributors to rising household expenses.
