The government of Ghana and the country’s trade unions, in a joint statement released this January, have agreed to increase all public servants’ salaries by 30% in the year 2023, as the country works on debt reduction and rampant inflation.
The West African prominent producer of cocoa, oil, and gold has demonstrated resilience in the face of global and regional economic tension.
Trade unions representing public service workers began talks with the government in November for an improved salary regime, a few months after protests were cautiously contained on the streets of Ghana.
Both the government and the unions settled for a 30% increase in workers’ salaries across all cadres of service, effective 1st January 2023.
The government of Ghana also emphasized extensive cuts in spending this year, including a reduction of ministers’ pay, a decrease in the deficit, and management of inflation, among other prudent cost-cutting measures.
The government also increased the cost-of-living allowance for public workers by 15% in July, quoting the impact of “global challenges” on citizens.
Ghana secured an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, IMF, for a three-billion-dollar, three-year support package in December 2022, but needs to streamline its debt to access the resources.