The industrial climate in Ghana is teetering on the edge of a major crisis as the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has issued a final, high-stakes warning to the government over the non-implementation of a long-overdue salary structure.
At a recent press conference, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Association, Kwame Krakani accused the government of “bad faith,” revealing that an agreement originally brokered years ago – and subsequently delayed multiple times – remains a mirage.
“It was agreed that the effective date for the implementation of the new salary structure was January 2025, because the effective date had shifted from January 2023 to January 2025”
“Our reminders on the delay of the implementation of the new salary structure and the conditions of service to the Honourable Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission have not been responded to”
Kwame Krakani, Deputy Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG
The friction stems from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that dates back to the tenure of former Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo. Now, with the 2025 fiscal year nearing its end and no adjustments reflected in the payroll, CLOGSAG argued that the “patience of the Ghanaian civil servant has been weaponized against them.”
Mr. Krakani revealed that the perceived lack of commitment from the government has created a volatile atmosphere among the rank-and-file, who feel abandoned by the very state they serve.
Speaking further, he highlighted that the proposed structure is distinct from the existing Single Spine Salary Structure, designed specifically to address the unique conditions of the civil and local government services.
The failure to launch this “unique” framework is now being framed by the union as a breach of contract that justifies extreme industrial measures. “Do we need to disturb the current industrial climate? We implore government to negotiate in good faith,” Mr. Krakani asked.
“We will not relent in our efforts to get to our destination. It appears there is only one message governments understand, and CLOGSAG is prepared to take that line of action. Meanwhile, we entreat our members to remain calm. We implore government to negotiate in good faith in order to forestall any impending action by the Civil Service”
Kwame Krakani, Deputy Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG
CLOGSAG warned of a total withdrawal of labor, referencing how in 2024, the Association demonstrated its ability to paralyze the ministerial enclave with strike actions.
Mr. Krakani added that their 2025 threat will be followed by swift and coordinated action, especially in a year that he described as “successful,” in terms of service delivery – despite the pay grievance.
The union’s ultimatum places the government in a tight fiscal corner. With the 2026 Appropriation Bill recently approved, there is little room for unbudgeted salary hikes without further straining the nation’s debt-management protocols. Yet, the cost of a nationwide administrative shutdown could be even higher.
As the December 31st deadline looms, the ball is firmly in the government’s court.
The threat is clear: unless the government honors its commitment to a unique salary structure by the close of the year, the civil service will shut down, disrupting the nation’s administrative spine.
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