Minister of State for Special Initiatives, Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, has called for the establishment of an independent and transparent body to oversee remuneration across Ghana's public sector. This proposal aims to address disparities in salaries and reduce situations where individual institutions pursue separate arrangements for improved pay. Dr Pelpuo made these comments on The Pulse on JoyNews.
Dr Pelpuo stated that the issue of salary disparities has contributed to concerns raised by public sector workers, including members of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG). He noted that one of the reasons CLOGSAG went on strike was to agitate for changes in their salary structures to earn more.
The proposed independent body would assess workers across the public sector and determine appropriate remuneration based on clearly defined criteria. Dr Pelpuo drew a comparison to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), which operates an independent regulatory framework for determining utility tariffs. This body would ensure a unified approach to remuneration, free from external influence.
Dr Pelpuo emphasized that a unified remuneration framework would not mean all public servants would earn the same salary. Differences would remain based on factors such as job nature, responsibilities, productivity, and risks associated with particular occupations. The principle would be to ensure that remuneration reflects the work performed and the level of productivity.
The proposal comes as the government considers establishing an Independent Public Emoluments Commission to provide a more objective mechanism for determining public sector remuneration. In July, the Labour Ministry engaged the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to review progress towards establishing the proposed body.
The government has previously negotiated public-sector pay adjustments under the existing framework, including a 9% increase in base pay under the Single Spine Salary Structure for 2026. Dr Pelpuo's comments add to ongoing discussions about creating a more consistent, transparent, and sustainable system for determining public sector compensation in Ghana.
Key stakeholders, including organised labour and public sector workers, are expected to engage with the government's proposal for an Independent Public Emoluments Commission. The outcome of these discussions will shape the future of public sector remuneration in Ghana.
Key points
- Dr Pelpuo proposes an independent commission to oversee public sector remuneration.
- The commission would ensure a unified approach to remuneration, free from external influence.
- A unified framework would not mean equal salaries for all public servants.
