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President Mahama’s Government Plans to Elevate Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to Constitutional Authority Determining Emoluments for ALL Public Service Workers, Including the President

In a bold move to promote fairness, transparency, and equity in public sector pay, President John Dramani Mahama’s administration is pushing to transform the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) into a constitutional authority. This would give it independent power to set salaries, allowances, and emoluments for every public service worker from junior civil servants to the highest office holders, including the President himself.

This proposal aligns with long-standing calls for an end to disparities, where Article 71 office holders (President, Vice President, MPs, Judges, etc.) enjoy separate determination processes, often seen as more generous, while regular public workers face ongoing wage struggles.

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What Exactly Is Being Proposed?

Elevate FWSC to Constitutional Status: Currently, the FWSC operates under the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission Act, 2007 (Act 737) and handles the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) for most public servants. Making it a constitutional body (similar to bodies like the Electoral Commission or Auditor-General) would entrench its independence in the 1992 Constitution.
Unified Emoluments Determination: The enhanced FWSC would determine pay for all public service workers, eliminating the current dual system:
- Article 71 holders: Salaries set by a separate Presidential Committee on Emoluments.
- Other public servants: Handled by FWSC under SSSS.
Inclusion of the President: The President’s salary and benefits would fall under this independent body a symbolic and practical step toward “equal pay principles” and reducing perceptions of elite privileges.
Broader Goals: Address pay disparities, ensure living wages, link pay to productivity, and prevent distortions in the public payroll.

This builds on President Mahama’s consistent advocacy for fair remuneration. In his earlier tenure and recent statements, he has agreed with unions like the TUC that “public service salaries are not living wages” and called for moves toward a true living wage. His NDC manifesto has long promised an Independent Emoluments Commission by merging FWSC with emoluments processes for Article 71 holders.

Why Now?

Ghana’s public pay system has faced criticism for years:

The Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP), introduced in 2010 under Mahama’s first term, aimed to rationalize pay but has struggled with implementation, leading to arrears, inequities, and union discontent.
Recent negotiations (e.g., 9% increase approved for 2026) highlight ongoing tensions, with unions pushing for higher adjustments amid inflation.
The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) reports (including the latest presented to President Mahama in late 2025) have recommended reforms like an Independent Emoluments Commission to handle all public pay transparently.
Mahama’s government has already formed a National Emolument Committee (announced in early 2025) to tackle disparities, and FWSC leadership (under CEO Dr. George Smith-Graham) has echoed calls for an independent body requiring constitutional changes.

This elevation would require:

Constitutional amendment (via referendum or parliamentary process).
Possible new legislation to redefine FWSC’s mandate.

Expected Benefits

Fairness & Equity: No more “two-tier” system everyone, from teachers and nurses to the President, under one transparent framework.
Reduced Corruption & Perceptions of Favoritism: Independent body minimizes political interference in pay decisions.
Better Worker Motivation: Clear, merit-based pay linked to performance could boost productivity.
Fiscal Discipline: Unified oversight helps control the public wage bill, a major budget item.
Union Support: Aligns with Organized Labour’s demands for living wages and fair structures.