George Smith-Graham, Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, has called for urgent reforms to Ghana’s public sector pay system, describing it as “fragmented, opaque, and increasingly unsustainable.”

Speaking at a high-level dialogue with Organised Labour at the Presidency, Dr Smith-Graham emphasised that the meeting was not for negotiations but to find solutions to long-standing challenges.

“Today, thankfully, we are not here to negotiate, but to look at how we will be able to help improve the system,” he said.

He highlighted the economic cost of labour unrest, revealing that 22 strikes in recent years have cost the country GH¢1.47 billion, with eight strikes in 2025 alone accounting for GH¢635 million.

The CEO noted that the Single Spine Pay Policy, which was introduced to correct distortions in public sector salaries, has lost effectiveness over time.

“Unfortunately, with the passage of time, we are almost back to square one,” he said, citing ongoing concerns over pay disparities, multiple allowances, and inequities between institutions performing similar functions.

He explained that the current system has reached its structural limit and requires fundamental reform.

“What is required now is not simply another round of negotiations, but a structural reform of how remuneration itself is determined,” he stressed, welcoming the government’s plan to introduce an independent emoluments commission.

Dr Smith-Graham acknowledged past lapses in parliamentary consultation, which allowed institutions to create different salary structures that undermined the Single Spine framework.

“This has resulted in different salary structures within the public sector, completely destroying the framework we started,” he said.

He expressed readiness to work with the board and Organised Labour to implement consultative processes for the transition in 2026.

“The challenges are real, but together, we can work through the Independent Emoluments Commission and rectify this situation once and for all,” he said.