Ghana's Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) projects a 90% or greater reduction in public sector strike actions. This reduction will occur once the new Independent Emoluments Commission (IEC) is fully operational. Dr. George Smith-Graham, the FWSC's Chief Executive Officer, made this announcement.
The IEC will implement a new national pay policy currently under development. This policy aims to resolve salary disparities and is expected to pass before the end of 2026. The FWSC identified political interference as a key flaw in the current Single Spine Salary Structure, introduced in 2010. Politicians have repeatedly made compensation decisions outside proper institutional channels, contributing to industrial unrest.
This initiative fits into Ghana's broader economic narrative of enhancing public sector efficiency and fiscal sustainability. The Single Spine Salary Structure significantly increased Ghana's wage bill, doubling it from 6% to 12% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The new policy aims to operate within a defined national compensation envelope. This approach seeks to avoid past mistakes where salary payments consumed a disproportionate share of national revenue. Ghana's government faces ongoing pressure to manage public financesprudently, especially regarding recurrent expenditures like the wage bill.
Dr. Smith-Graham stated, "Our aim is to make sure that there is total industrial harmony, and we are targeting 90 per cent and above strike-free, once we are looking at having a better salary or wages for our workers." He noted that the new policy would ensure genuine disputes on pay determination take precedence over political interference. This shift will reduce implementation failures that often trigger strikes.
The Independent Emoluments Commission is currently declared an institution in transition by the President. Its enabling bill is expected to pass Parliament around October 2026. Extensive consultations will involve the Judiciary, Executive, Legislature, Organised Labour, and state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This process ensures broad stakeholder input before the bill progresses through the Attorney General's Department and Cabinet. The new policy also seeks to address the widespread abuse of allowances. Workers often claim extra pay by attaching occupational labels to routine duties, distorting the pay system. An upcoming national productivity roundtable will link pay to performance and establish parameters for a new performance and productivity policy.