Ghana Government Approves 10% Salary Increment for Public Sector Workers: What You Need to Know About the 2025 Adjustment and 2012 SSSS Rule

April 11, 2025

Official communication from the Ministry of Finance on the 2025 salary adjustment.

10% Salary Increase for Public Sector Workers Effective January 2025

The Ghanaian government has officially announced a 10% salary increment for all public sector workers under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS). The adjustment, will  tatke effect from January 1, 2025, was confirmed in a letter signed by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson (MP), Minister for Finance, and addressed to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department for immediate implementation.

This development comes after successful negotiations between the government and labor unions, marking a significant improvement in public sector remuneration for 2025.

Key Details of the 2025 Salary Adjustment

1. Understanding the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS)

The SSSS is Ghana’s standardized pay system designed to ensure equity in public sector compensation. It groups jobs into grades and steps, ensuring that employees with similar roles and qualifications receive fair and consistent salaries across all government institutions.

2. The 10% Across-the-Board Increase

• All public sector workers on the SSSS will receive a 10% increase in their base pay.
• The new salary structure (Appendix A attached to the official letter) will be used to process payments.
• The adjustment is retroactive, meaning workers should expect arrears covering the period from January 2025 once implemented.

3. The 2012 SSSS Rule: How It Affects Market Premiums

A crucial aspect of this announcement concerns the market premium—an additional allowance paid to workers in specialized or high-demand fields (e.g., doctors, engineers, and teachers).

• Market premiums will continue to be calculated based on the 2012 SSSS base salary, not the new 2025 adjusted salary.
• This means that while workers benefit from a 10% increase in their base pay, their market premium allowance remains unchanged from its 2012 value.

Practical Example:

• If a teacher’s 2012 base salary was GHC 1,000 with a 20% market premium, they received GHC 200 as an extra allowance.
• After the 2025 adjustment, their new base salary becomes GHC 1,100 (10% increase), but their market premium stays at GHC 200 (not 20% of GHC 1,100).

Reason for the Policy:
The government aims to manage public expenditure by keeping market premiums fixed at their 2012 levels, preventing automatic increases whenever base salaries are adjusted.

Implementation Timeline and What Workers Should Expect

• The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department is expected to begin processing the new salaries soon.
• Workers should:
  Review their upcoming payslips to confirm the new base pay.
  Look out for arrear payments covering January 2025 onwards.

📅 April 11, 2025

Share This Update!

📱 WhatsApp Channel: Join for Updates
🔗 Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn