President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled plans to create a National Emoluments Policy aimed at reforming public sector salaries and reducing pay disparities across government institutions.
Speaking at a meeting with Organised Labour as part of his Presidential Dialogue series at the Jubilee House, President Mahama explained that the policy would harmonise allowances, strengthen performance-based incentives, and ensure public sector remuneration aligns with Ghana’s fiscal and development priorities.
A key feature of the initiative is the proposed Independent Emoluments Commission, which would be a constitutional body tasked with determining salaries for all public officeholders—from the President to the lowest-paid civil servant. The move is intended to improve fairness, transparency, and productivity within the public sector.
“The system we envision will align rewards with performance and national development goals,” President Mahama stated, noting that the policy also forms part of ongoing reforms to the Single Spine Salary Structure.
Initially, the policy will apply to public institutions, agencies, and state-owned enterprises, with tailored approaches reflecting their financial capacities. Inclusion of Article 71 officeholders will follow the necessary constitutional and legislative processes.
The President reassured organised labour that the government would maintain transparency by providing clear and consistent updates on the state of the economy throughout the implementation of the reforms.
