The Government of Ghana and organised labour have signed a historic Multi-Year Public Service Remuneration Agreement for the 2027 and 2028 fiscal years. The agreement, negotiated at the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC), covers workers on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS). The Government was represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ministry of Finance, while organised labour was represented by workers' unions and institutions within Ghana's Public Service.
The agreement provides a two-year framework effective January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2028. This will provide predictability and a stable environment for the transition from FWSC to the Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC). For 2027, there will be a 9% increase in total remuneration, with 8 percentage points for base pay across-the-board and 1 percentage point for Conditions of Service.
For 2028, the agreement provides for a 10% increase across-the-board base pay effective January 1, 2028. This increase will be calculated on the applicable base pay at December 31, 2027. The 2028 Base Pay was agreed considering current inflation of 5.2% and the Government's projection of 8%±2% for 2027 and 2028.
The agreement also includes provisions for income protection and reforms. If year-on-year inflation for December 2027 overshoots the midpoint of 8% by a factor of two, the PSJSNC shall reconvene to review the 2028 Base Pay. During the transitional period, parties shall review allowances to address distortions, and the Government shall consult organised labour quarterly on reforms.
The Agreement was signed on behalf of the Government by Dr George Smith-Graham, Chief Executive of FWSC, and on behalf of organised labour by Bro. Joshua Ansah, Secretary-General of TUC. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Hon. Dr Cassiel Ato Forson (MP), Minister for Finance, and Mr Thomas T. Musah, General Secretary, GNAT.
The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, commended organised labour and the government negotiating team for their cooperation and commitment to the national interest. He noted that the agreement is about more than salaries, but also about protecting workers' incomes, giving families greater certainty, and helping the Government plan and manage public spending responsibly.
The Chief Executive of FWSC, Dr George Smith-Graham, and the Secretary-General of TUC, Joshua Ansah, also expressed their satisfaction with the agreement. They noted that the negotiations have been significant, reflecting a collective commitment to industrial harmony, predictability in public expenditure, income security for workers, and stability during the transition to IPEC.
Key points
- The agreement provides for a 9% increase in total remuneration for 2027 and 10% for 2028.
- The agreement includes provisions for income protection and reforms.
- The agreement was signed by Dr George Smith-Graham, Chief Executive of FWSC, and Bro. Joshua Ansah, Secretary-General of TUC.
