Kasseh Market sweepers strike over three months of unpaid salaries

About 27 sweepers at the Kasseh Market in the Ada East District have embarked on an indefinite strike to protest three months of unpaid wages. The industrial action, which began on November 2, 2026, has already caused significant sanitation challenges, with piles of refuse accumulating throughout the busy marketplace. The workers have declared that they will not return to their duties until the District Assembly settles the outstanding arrears in full.

The strike follows a history of recurring payment delays and unfulfilled financial promises that the workers say have made their lives unbearable. According to the sweepers, they previously endured two years without pay under the former administration. They noted that during the election campaign, leaders from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had promised to increase their monthly stipends from GH₵250 to GH₵700. However, they reported that after the current administration took office, they initially went ten months without receiving any payment.

While the District Assembly eventually adjusted their monthly salary to GH₵350—half of what they claim was promised—the workers are now facing another period of non-payment. The current three-month backlog served as the breaking point, leading to the total withdrawal of cleaning services. The workers have highlighted the difficulty of supporting their families and meeting basic needs on a salary that is not only low but also consistently late.

The absence of cleaning services is rapidly deteriorating the market’s environment, sparking urgent public health and sanitation concerns among traders and patrons. Large quantities of waste are now being left unattended in public spaces, creating a foul odor and attracting pests. Despite the growing crisis and the potential for a health emergency, the Ada East District Chief Executive has declined to comment on the situation or provide a timeline for when the sweepers can expect their payments. Local stakeholders are calling for a swift resolution to prevent a total breakdown of hygiene standards at one of the district’s most critical economic hubs.