You Have No Right To Marry With Your Small Salary – Justice Atuguba Cautions Ghanaian Youth
Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice William Atuguba, has expressed concern over the economic hardships facing Ghana’s youth, suggesting that many young people are not in a financial position to sustain marriages. He noted that given the low wages in certain professions, marriage is an unrealistic option for many.
Speaking in an interview with Accra-based TV3, Justice Atuguba highlighted the meagre earnings of some workers, citing tanker drivers who reportedly earn as little as Ghc 700 and Uber drivers earning around Ghc 300 per month. He described these income levels as insufficient to support even basic living expenses, calling it a “death sentence” for those trying to make ends meet.
“I get frightened when I think of it,” he said. “You find tanker drivers paid Ghc 700, Uber drivers paid Ghc 300. These people have been sentenced to death. How can you survive on this? You have no right to marry because you can’t sustain the marriage.”
Justice Atuguba emphasized that such low earnings make it difficult for young men to cover essential costs like rent, especially with high rental demands and the disregard for rent regulations, which often see landlords asking for three years’ rent in advance. He suggested that with the financial pressures many face, marriage should be approached with caution.