Ghanaians have expressed strong criticism towards Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East and Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, for her recent comments comparing the cost of living in Ghana to that in Canada. In an interview, Koomson suggested that Ghanaians complaining about the high cost of living should visit Canada to realize the challenges faced by citizens in other countries.
The minister argued, “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.” However, this statement has triggered a backlash from Ghanaians who find the comparison inappropriate.
Ghanaians on social media platforms, particularly Twitter, criticized the MP’s remarks, pointing out the vast differences in economic conditions between the two countries. Many highlighted the minimum wage disparities, emphasizing that such comparisons overlook the unique challenges faced by citizens in each country.
Some individuals questioned the basis for the comparison, considering factors such as infrastructure, job availability, and overall economic conditions. Critics argued that the comments were out of touch with the realities faced by the majority of Ghanaians.
One user tweeted, “How can you compare Ghana to Canada in what capacity can you say we are better than Canada or equal to them?” Others raised concerns about the state of the economy, job opportunities, and living conditions within Ghana.
The critique comes in the wake of a recent increase in Ghana’s national daily minimum wage, which was raised from GH₵14.88 to GH₵18.15 from January 1, 2024. In Canada, the minimum wage per hour for 2024 is $16.50, equivalent to GH₵205.99.
