Accra – Dr. George Smith‑Graham, Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), called on state‑owned enterprise (SOE) leaders to support the government’s push for an independent, equitable and sustainable public sector pay system during a stakeholder engagement in Accra.
The meeting, themed “Towards an Independent, Equitable & Sustainable Compensation System: Stakeholder’s Perspectives on Ghana’s Public Sector Pay Reforms,” was part of the transition of the FWSC to the newly formed Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC).
Smith‑Graham said the change is more than a name shift; it is a fundamental reform of Ghana’s remuneration architecture. "For too long, our public sector pay system has been fragmented, inequitable and fiscally unsustainable. The establishment of IPEC is to fix that," he said.
The commission, a presidential priority announced by President John Dramani Mahama, will replace the fragmented system with an integrated, transparent and productivity‑driven National Public Sector Emoluments Management System. It aims to ensure fairness, equal pay for work of equal value, harmonise compensation across the public service, and link remuneration to performance.
SOEs, Dr. Smith‑Graham noted, are critical stakeholders as excessive disparities, negotiation overlaps and fiscal pressures often emanate from the sector. He urged CEOs, finance and HR directors to share frank perspectives to shape a modern, fair and sustainable pay system that will stand the test of time.
The stakeholder engagement is one of several nationwide consultations ahead of the laying of the IPEC Bill before Parliament in October 2026.
What to watch: The IPEC Bill will be debated in Parliament next month, potentially reshaping public sector compensation across Ghana.
