Mixed reactions as gov’t ups 2026 base pay by 9%

The Government of Ghana’s decision to increase the base pay on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) by 9% for 2026 has ignited a significant debate across the nation, confirmed by an agreement signed on November 9, 2025.

Despite the official conclusion of negotiations between the government and organised labour, the final figure has elicited sharply contrasting public reactions.

Many public sector workers and their unions have slammed the government, calling the 9% adjustment insufficient given the current economic climate. These groups had been pushing for an increase of at least 15%, arguing that the lower percentage fails to adequately compensate for high inflation and the rising cost of living.

They contend that after prolonged negotiations, the settlement feels like a real-terms pay cut and does not reflect the sacrifices made by public servants.

Conversely, officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) quickly defended the figure, reasoning that the 9% adjustment was a difficult but necessary compromise to ensure general macroeconomic stability.

They warned that granting a higher percentage would place an unsustainable strain on the national budget, potentially jeopardising recent efforts to control inflation and manage fiscal deficits. Those supporting the government’s stance emphasise that a larger wage bill could trigger further price increases, ultimately neutralising any perceived gain for the workers.

Upon assuming office, the government increased the 2025 base pay by 10%, appealing to organised labour to exercise patience and make sacrifices as it worked to reorganise an economy it claimed had been left in disarray by the previous administration.