Fair Wages and Salaries Commission CEO Proposes Hourly Pay System to Enhance Public Sector Productivity.

Fair Wages and Salaries Commission Boss Advocates Hourly Pay System to Improve Public 

Dr. Edward Bernard Adjei-Poku, Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), is advocating for the adoption of an hourly wage system in Ghana’s public sector as a strategy to improve productivity and accountability.

During a meeting with Parliament’s Select Committee on Employment, Pensions and Labour, Dr. Adjei-Poku underscored the need for a performance-driven compensation model. He criticized the current pay structure which often rewards attendance instead of measurable output. According to him, employees are being paid for eight-hour workdays, yet actual work output often falls short due to lax supervision and widespread "presentism"—where workers are physically present but unproductive.

He revealed that the Commission plans to test the hourly wage model internally before considering a nationwide rollout. “If we find success in-house, we can recommend it for broader implementation across public institutions,” he explained.

Dr. Adjei-Poku also drew attention to lingering challenges in the wage system despite the introduction of the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP), which was intended to ensure fairness. He noted that inflation and declining base salaries have pushed many institutions to rely heavily on allowances, defeating the SSPP’s original purpose.

In addition, he criticized the fragmented approach to wage negotiations, where some public institutions operate with multiple collective bargaining certificates. “Some organizations have as many as 14 separate groups negotiating different terms—this is clearly unsustainable,” he said, calling for policy support from lawmakers and government officials to unify the process.

As part of broader reforms, he hinted at ongoing preparations to restructure the FWSC in line with plans to transform it into an Independent Emoluments Commission. This new body would oversee all salaries in the public sector, from the highest offices to the most junior ranks. However, he noted that this change will demand internal restructuring, stakeholder collaboration, and significant investment in training—a component he says is currently underfunded.

Chairman of the Committee, Joseph Appiah Boateng, assured the Commission of Parliament’s commitment to supporting efforts that would strengthen its operations and improve public sector efficiency.

Established in 2007, the FWSC is responsible for job evaluations, collective bargaining coordination, pay policy implementation, and performance management in the public sector. The Single Spine Pay Policy was fully introduced in 2010.

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