TEWU: 9% base pay for 2026 was a difficult but responsible decision to maintain economic stability
The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) says the 9% increase in base pay for the 2026 fiscal year was a difficult but responsible decision aimed at maintaining Ghana’s economic stability.
Speaking in a radio interview on Accra-based Starr FM on Monday, November 10, TEWU’s General Secretary, King James Azortibah acknowledged that although many workers are disappointed, the unions prioritized the nation’s economic health over immediate personal gains.
“For now, nobody would want to take it easy because it’s not like you are happy with it,” he admitted.
“But given all the circumstances, and with all of us trying to respect the country, we want to believe that the real value of our money — given the stability of the dollar and the inflation rate — is something you don’t see as a loss at all.”
Mr Azortibah emphasized that demanding a higher pay increase could have worsened inflation and led to additional taxes on workers.
“It’s better to have a stable economy than a high percentage increase, only for the government to take back the money through taxes and inflationary costs,” he noted.
He further stated that morale among union members remains high despite mixed reactions to the final agreement.
“Morale is high because people don’t expect a new government that will always be complaining everything is not good. They are giving them the opportunity to prove all Ghanaians wrong,” he said.
Background
The government has approved a nine per cent salary increase for all public sector workers under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) for the 2026 fiscal year.
The National Tripartite Committee has also agreed to a nine per cent adjustment to the national daily minimum wage, which currently stands at GH¢19.97.
The increment, which consequently pegs the new minimum wage at GH¢21.77, takes effect from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
The agreement, signed on Sunday, Novemeber 9, between the Government — represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) — and Organised Labour, followed successful negotiations aimed at ensuring stability in the public sector.
