Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, told chief executives of state‑owned enterprises (SOEs) in Accra that the government seeks a locally‑designed public sector pay system, not a foreign model. The call came during a Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC)‑organised meeting on Friday, where SOE CEOs were invited to contribute to the transition to the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC).
Mr Agyekum said the consultation is essential for building consensus and ensuring the new system reflects Ghana’s realities. “This is not coming to take your powers. We want you to support, we want you to contribute, we want you to give any other input that will be able to help us to bring in something that is new. Let it be the best system,” he said.
The minister also addressed concerns that the IPEC framework would target office holders under Article 71 of the Constitution, affirming that the government will follow the required constitutional and legal processes. He added that President John Dramani Mahama fully backs the reforms and urged SOE leaders not to withhold their views.
FWSC Chief Executive Dr George Smith‑Graham explained that the transition would not strip boards of their mandate. Under the new arrangement, boards would still assess their organisations’ business models and submit evidence‑based remuneration proposals to IPEC, while the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) would provide governance and financial performance perspectives. IPEC would oversee compensation on behalf of the government as shareholder.
The engagement is part of consultations ahead of the IPEC Bill, expected to be laid before Parliament in October 2026. The proposed framework aims to link remuneration differences to objective factors such as organisational size, complexity, profitability, capacity to pay, productivity and market scarcity.
As the dialogue continues, stakeholders will shape a compensation system that balances equity, sustainability and Ghana’s unique context. The next step will be the parliamentary debate on the IPEC Bill in October.
