Pelpuo calls for independent commission to oversee Ghana’s public sector remuneration

Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, the Minister of State for Special Initiatives, has advocated for the creation of an independent body to regulate remuneration across Ghana's public sector. He urged for a transparent framework to tackle salary disparities and prevent institutions from negotiating individual pay deals. Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews, Dr Pelpuo said this issue had fueled concerns among public sector workers, including those from the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG).

"One of the reasons CLOGSAG was going on strike was because we were all agitating that our salary structures should be changed so we can earn more," he explained. He suggested that an independent commission should evaluate workers across the public sector and decide on suitable remuneration based on clear criteria. "If there’s an independent transparent commission that can look at workers’ remuneration across board and put people at where they are across board, there wouldn’t be a problem," he stated.

Dr Pelpuo likened this proposal to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), which manages an independent regulatory system for determining utility tariffs. "There must be a unified approach to it and by an independent body like PURC, as an independent body, is determining tariff across board. They shouldn’t be influenced by anybody," he added.

This unified system would not imply equal salaries for all public servants, Dr Pelpuo clarified. He mentioned that differences would persist based on factors such as job nature, responsibilities, productivity, and the risks associated with particular occupations. "It doesn’t mean that when that happens everybody is going to take the same salary," he emphasized.

Instead, the focus should be on ensuring that remuneration reflects the work performed and the level of productivity. This proposal comes as the government explores the creation of an Independent Public Emoluments Commission to provide an objective method for determining public sector remuneration. The Labour Ministry had engaged the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in July to review its progress towards setting up the proposed body.

The government previously negotiated public-sector pay adjustments under the current framework, agreeing on a nine per cent increase in base pay under the Single Spine Salary Structure for 2026 between the government and organized labor. Dr Pelpuo's remarks contribute to ongoing discussions about creating a consistent, transparent, and sustainable system for determining public sector compensation in Ghana.