Editorial
Let’s close the gender pay gap
According to a study by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), women in Ghana are paid 34.2 percent less than men, as reported in last week’s issue of The Spectator.
It said the wage gap was the highest among workers with basic education (60.1 percent) followed by workers with no education (54 percent).
The data from the first-quarter of the 2022 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (AHIES) was released to commemorate International Equal Pay Day, which was observed on September 18.
It aimed at encouraging efforts toward the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value.
According to the story, “the gender wage gap is lowest among paid workers with tertiary education or more, where women earn 12.7 percent less than their male counterparts.”
The discrepancy between men’s and women’s incomes is known as the “gender pay gap.”
Arguments against the gender pay gap stem from gender inequality, which include lack of employment equality, unequal political representation, unequal access to education, and job segregation at work, where society tends to believe that men are better suited to handle particular jobs.
And because of this, people believe that men are better in the highest-paying jobs, which results in discrimination and lower incomes.
It appears that most women are paid less than men because they (the women) occupy positions that require less education, less experience, or fewer time commitments which affect their pay-packs eventually.
It is not surprising though, that some women with higher education levels and lots of experience are still underappreciated.
In certain organisations, women negotiate salary increases and request promotions, yet they are turned down.
In these modern times when women provide majority of the income for their families, when they are paid less, they have less money for essential expenses like child care, rent, utilities, education, savings and property.
The Spectator believes that if women were compensated decently and the salary gap is closed it will benefit society and the economy as a whole to reduce the poverty rate.
We implore all employers, including those in the public and private sectors, whether formally or informally, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), among others to make pay equity a top priority on their agenda to ensure that women and men receive equal pay for the work they do.
We also urge women to advance in their careers to create more opportunities for them in their jobs.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
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