The government has authorized a 23% increase in the base pay for all public sector employees under the Single Spine Salary Structure. This choice is the result of protracted discussions with Organized Labor.
Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Minister of Employment and Labor Relations, declared that the change will take effect on January 1, 2024, and run through June 1, 2024.
He continued by saying that there will be a 25% increase in base pay from July 2024 to December 2024.
“We agreed that the minimum wage would be reviewed upwards by 22%, averaging from 14.88 to GH18.15…We have concluded that the national base pay will be increased by 23% between 1st February 2024 to 30 June 2024 and subsequently an additional an additional 2% incremnent will be added making it 25% from July to December 2024,” he stated.
Speaking on behalf of Organized Labor, Dr. Yaw Baah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, expressed optimism that the government will carefully carry out the decision.
Concurrently, the Deputy Minister of Finance underscored the government’s dedication to improving the welfare of employees in the public sector.
For the fiscal year 2023, Organized Labor demanded a 60% increase in base pay at all levels; however, despite multiple meetings, nothing positive could be achieved for government employees.
Following that, the government decided to raise the Single Spine Salary Structure’s base pay for all public sector employees by 30%, starting on January 1, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is adamantly advocating for doctors to receive their entire salary upon retirement, arguing that this is a legitimate and appropriate request.
GMA President Frank Serebour made this call very clear at the Association’s 65th General Meeting, which took place on Monday, November 13, 2023.
In light of the enormous sacrifices doctors make in their roles—which involve not only their professional expertise but also their physical and mental well-being—President Serebour underlined the necessity for doctors’ pensions to be secure.
He declared, “Our pensions must be secure after we have sacrificed our bodies, minds, and souls in our service.”
