The Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, George Smith-Graham, has described Ghana’s current public sector pay structure as “broken,” warning that it is failing both workers and the nation.
Speaking at the Presidential Dialogue with Organised Labour, Smith-Graham said the existing system is characterised by disparities, opacity, and unsustainable practices that continue to fuel labour unrest.
“We have a system where people doing similar work are paid differently, where allowances are overtaking salaries, and where disputes arise frequently not because workers are unreasonable, but because the system itself is fragmented and opaque,” he stated.
According to him, the inefficiencies within the pay structure have come at a significant cost to the country. He revealed that Ghana recorded 22 strikes in 2024 alone, costing the economy approximately GH¢1.47 billion. In 2025, eight strikes were recorded, resulting in losses of about GH¢635 million.
Smith-Graham explained that while the Single Spine Pay Policy was introduced to correct distortions in public sector salaries, its gains have gradually eroded over time. He attributed this to the proliferation of allowances and the emergence of multiple pay structures across institutions performing similar roles.
He further noted that the breakdown of coordination—particularly the failure to consistently refer salary-related legislation to the Commission—has worsened disparities and undermined the integrity of the pay system.
“As institutions began securing approval for their own conditions of service outside the established framework, it led to different salary structures and effectively weakened the single spine system,” he said.
The CEO stressed that the challenges facing the current system have reached a “structural limit,” making incremental adjustments insufficient. Instead, he called for comprehensive reforms in how public sector remuneration is determined.
He expressed support for government plans to transition to an Independent Emoluments Commission, describing it as a necessary step toward restoring fairness, transparency, and sustainability in public sector pay.
Smith-Graham assured stakeholders that the Commission stands ready to support the transition process through consultations with organised labour and other partners.
“It is my prayer that together we will be able to rectify this situation once and for all,” he added.
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