{
  "id": 10395772,
  "title": "IPEC will not undermine authority of boards of SOEs …. FWSC Assures",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/ipec-will-not-undermine-authority-of-boards-of-soes-fwsc-assures",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T07:41:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghanaian Times",
    "slug": "ghanaian-times",
    "url": "https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/ipec-will-not-undermine-authority-of-boards-of-soes-fwsc-assures/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has affirmed that the upcoming Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC) will not undermine the authority of State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) boards or compete with existing public institutions. The assurance was provided during a stakeholder engagement in Accra, focusing on the transition from FWSC to IPEC and its implications for public sector compensation.\n\nDr. George Smith-Graham, the Chief Executive of FWSC, emphasized that the transition goes beyond renaming an institution. He explained that the goal is to establish a more robust compensation system capable of addressing issues such as fragmented pay structures, discrepancies in allowances and conditions of service, and the burdens of the public sector wage bill.\n\nThe proposed IPEC Bill, once enacted, will replace the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission Act of 2007 (Act 737). The reform seeks to tackle problems like uneven pay scales, disparities in benefits, and the pressures on the public sector wage bill. It also aims to maintain the role of SOE boards in determining remuneration based on factors like the size, complexity, financial standing, and strategic importance of their enterprises.\n\nIPEC will serve as an overarching review and oversight mechanism to safeguard public resources and the government's interests as a stakeholder, while allowing SOE boards to continue preparing evidence-based compensation proposals. The Minister of Labour, Employment and Job Creation, Emmanuel Agyekum, clarified that the reform is not a power shift but a tailored framework designed to suit Ghana's economic, legal, and institutional context.\n\nMr. Agyekum, representing Nkoranza South in Parliament, stated that Ghana is not emulating another country's compensation system. He urged stakeholders to contribute their insights and suggestions to bolster the proposed compensation system. The government has accepted the Constitutional Review Committee's recommendation for an IPEC to determine salaries and benefits for Article 71 office holders, encompassing the President, Members of Parliament, the Judiciary, and heads of specified constitutional bodies.\n\nThe transition process will adhere to the necessary legal and constitutional procedures. The FWSC consultations will continue as the proposed legislation advances through the legislative process. The ultimate aim is to create an independent compensation system that fosters fairness, fiscal responsibility, and sustainability, without introducing competing institutions or weakening established governance structures.",
  "summary": "The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has said the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC) will not compete with existing public institutions or undermine the authority of boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). According to the Commission, IPEC is expected to provide a more independent, equitable and sustainable framework for managing public sector compensation. The ……",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}