The Government and Organised Labour have signed a two-year public service remuneration agreement covering 2027 and 2028, granting workers on the Single Spine Salary Structure an overall remuneration increase of 9 per cent in 2027 and a 10 per cent base pay increase in 2028.
The agreement, negotiated under the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC), takes effect from January 1, 2027, and runs until December 31, 2028. It is intended to provide predictability in workers’ remuneration and support the transition from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to the Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC).
Under the agreement, base pay will increase by 8 per cent across the board in 2027, with an additional 1 per cent provision for conditions of service. In 2028, base pay will rise by 10 per cent across the board, calculated on the applicable base pay as of December 31, 2027.
The agreement also includes an income-protection provision under which the negotiating committee will reconvene to review the 2028 base pay if December 2027 year-on-year inflation exceeds 16 per cent, twice the 8 per cent midpoint of the government’s inflation projection.
The parties have further agreed to review allowances to address existing disparities, while the government will consult Organised Labour quarterly on reforms. The FWSC will retain its lawful functions until any transfer of responsibilities to IPEC takes legal effect.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson described the agreement as a historic milestone, noting that it was the first time the government and Organised Labour had reached a two-year pay arrangement.
He said the agreement goes beyond salaries by protecting workers’ incomes, providing families with greater certainty and helping the government manage public spending responsibly.
Chief Executive of the FWSC, Dr George Smith-Graham, said the agreement was significant as Ghana prepares for institutional changes in public sector compensation. He said the two-year framework reflects a shared commitment to industrial harmony, predictable public expenditure and workers’ income security.
TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah said the 2027 base pay adjustment was above the prevailing inflation rate, although he acknowledged that workers continued to face cost-of-living pressures. He described the agreement as progress towards protecting purchasing power and called for fair pay and equitable conditions of service.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the government by Dr Smith-Graham and on behalf of Organised Labour by Mr Ansah. Dr Forson and General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas T. Musah, witnessed the signing.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to industrial harmony, improved productivity and a fairer public service remuneration system.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
