GHC1.47 billion was lost by Ghana to industrial actions in 2024, with a further GHC635 million recorded in 2025, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Dr George Smith Graham.
Addressing a meeting held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, between President John Dramani Mahama and Organised Labour, Dr Graham cautioned that recurring strikes continue to place a significant financial strain on the country.
He stressed that strike actions in 2026 have already come at a considerable cost to the state.
Providing details, he revealed that 22 strike incidents in 2024 resulted in the GHC1.47 billion loss, while eight strikes in 2025 accounted for GHC635 million.
Dr Graham also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting government plans to create an Independent Emoluments Commission aimed at improving the management of public sector salaries.
He added that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission would collaborate with labour unions to ensure the effective rollout of the new system, which is intended to promote fairness and boost worker satisfaction.
Touching on existing challenges, he admitted that the Single Spine Pay Structure is in need of major reforms due to ongoing inequalities.
He explained that workers performing similar duties are often paid differently, allowances have in many cases surpassed basic salaries, and the system frequently leads to disputes because it is fragmented, unclear, and increasingly difficult to sustain.
From a technical standpoint, he noted that the current framework for determining public sector pay has reached its limit and requires a complete structural overhaul.
Although the Single Spine Pay Policy initially addressed imbalances in salaries, Dr Graham observed that its effectiveness has weakened over time.
He remarked that the situation has gradually reverted to previous conditions despite earlier improvements.
He further indicated that decisions made by Parliament and labour unions outside the established framework have contributed to the existing disparities.
The engagement with Organised Labour comes after recent protests by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana over salary issues and working conditions, with the union calling off its strike on March 17, 2026.