President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to introduce a comprehensive national framework aimed at addressing salary and compensation disparities in the public sector.

The move comes in the wake of growing concerns over pay gaps, inconsistent allowances, and the need for performance-based reward systems.

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The president made this known during a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, following a recent strike by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG).

What the proposed policy will address

According to President Mahama, the proposed policy will focus on several key areas, such as reducing salary inequalities across the public sector and ensuring workers in similar roles receive comparable compensation.

It will also standardise payments for fairness and transparency and introduce or improve mechanisms that reward productivity and measurable results.

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“The Independent Emoluments Commission will develop a comprehensive National Emolument Policy. The policy will address pay disparities, harmonise allowances, strengthen performance-based compensations, and align public sector pay with Ghana’s long-term development and fiscal priorities,” President Mahama said.

The president further noted that by aligning public sector pay with broader fiscal and development priorities, the government hopes to create a system that is both sustainable and equitable.

Implications for public sector workers

If implemented, the policy could transform how civil servants are paid, with the potential to reduce grievances and strike actions caused by pay disparities, encourage higher productivity through performance-linked incentives, improve retention and morale among public sector employees and also create a clearer, more transparent pay structure aligned with government priorities.

The proposed policy forms part of broader efforts by the government to reform public sector compensation, improve industrial relations and create a system that is both fair and aligned with the country’s long-term development goals.

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