Independent Emoluments Commission to be set up by end of 2025
The Acting Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Dr George Smith-Graham, has emphasised the need for fairness, transparency, and alignment with national developent goals in public sector compensation Speaking today, Thursday April 24, 2025 at the Trade Unions Congress pre-May Day conference in Accra, Dr Smith-Graham highlighted the proposed establishment of an Independent Emoluments Commission to oversee salary setting in the public sector.
The event, organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), was on the theme: “Resetting Pay and Working Conditions in Ghana: The Role of Stakeholders.
Eliminating disparities
Dr Smith-Graham said the emoluments commission would be established by the end of the 2025 and it aims to bring all public sector employees under the same pay policy, ensuring that salaries are determined based on a fair and transparent framework.
The move is expected to eliminate unjustifiable disparities and promote productivity in the public sector.
Dr Smith-Graham noted that the establishment of the Independent Emoluments Commission would require a constitutional review and a new enactment.
The commission will have the power to determine the salaries of public sector employees, including those in the executive, judiciary, and other agencies. This proposal is part of a broader effort to reform the public sector and promote good governance. Dr Smith-Graham emphasized the need for a national consensus on public service reform, involving government, labor, employers, and other stakeholders.
Living wage
In a subsequent interview with journalists, Dr Smith-Graham shed light on the ongoing discussions surrounding the implementation of a living wage in Ghana.
He suggested a phased implementation plan with specific timelines and benchmarks would be more effective. “Let’s have a plan, whether it’s three years, five years, or ten years, and work towards it,” he proposed.
Dr Smith-Graham expressed his support for the concept of a living wage, stating, “I’m not against the living wage at all. I think that as a country, we can do it, but it has to be a long-term plan.”
The Independent Emoluments Commission is expected to play a crucial role in promoting fairness and transparency in public sector pay, and its establishment is seen as a significant step towards reforming the public sector.
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