The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) has backed the 9% base pay increase for the 2026 fiscal year, describing it as a difficult but responsible choice that safeguards Ghana’s economic stability amid competing demands for higher wages.
The General Secretary of TEWU, King James Azortibah, noted that the new agreement between government and organised labour, though modest, was reached in the best interest of national stability and workers’ long-term welfare.
His remarks came after the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) concluded discussions on November 9, 2025, setting the new base pay for January to December 2026.
“For now, nobody would want to take it easy because it’s not like you are happy with it,” Mr. Azortibah admitted, explaining that while the 9% increment fell short of labour’s expectations, unions took into account the country’s fiscal conditions before settling on the agreement.
“Given the circumstances and all of us trying to reset the country, we want to believe that the real value of our money, taking into account the stability of the dollar and inflation rate – this is something that you don’t see as a loss at all”
King James Azortibah, General Secretary of TEWU
According to TEWU, prioritising economic stability over steep wage demands was essential to avoid pushing inflation higher and triggering further taxation. “It’s better to have a stable economy than a high percentage of increase,” the TEWU General Secretary noted.
Negotiations and Labour’s Perspective
The base pay adjustment, part of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), follows intense negotiations between government and labour groups.
While some unions had demanded a minimum 20% increase, TEWU described the 9% as a practical compromise shaped by current inflation trends, employment needs, and the national budget framework.
“We are not excited, this is just what we could get,” Mr. Azortibah stated, speaking to whether organised labour was pleased with the outcome.
He revealed that negotiations began with labour proposing a 50% increase, while the government’s initial offer was 2%. The final agreement, he said, reflected realism and responsibility.
“We had to consider the inflation rate being around 8% percent – we had to consider employment and recruitment into the public service too,” Mr. Azortibah said, noting that the process was marked by openness and rigorous dialogue.
“We had five or six meetings – it’s not like they started out with a cup of tea and we signed,” he added. He stressed that unions acted in good faith, recognising the challenges facing the economy under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, which has sought to maintain fiscal discipline while managing wage expectations.
Morale and Broader Outlook
Despite mixed reactions from workers, TEWU maintained that the outcome preserves confidence in both the union’s leadership and the government’s economic management.
“Morale is high because people don’t expect a new government that will always complain that everything is not good – they are just giving the government the opportunity to prove all Ghanaians wrong”
King James Azortibah, General Secretary of TEWU
TEWU believes that sustaining a stable cedi, low inflation, and predictable fiscal conditions will in the long run benefit public servants more than temporary pay hikes that erode quickly through economic pressures.
In its official statement, TEWU reaffirmed that the wage decision “represents a win-win outcome” balancing workers’ welfare and national interest. “This is our country… and we think that this is what is the best for the country,” the union said, emphasising that responsible collective bargaining remains vital for long-term economic recovery.
The 9% increment will take effect in January 2026, covering all categories under the Single Spine Salary Structure. The Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee described the agreement as a product of “frank and constructive engagement,” among all stakeholders.
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