Dr. George Smith-Graham, the Acting CEO of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), is calling for an hourly pay system in Ghana.
He believes this will help casual and low-income workers earn more and get fair treatment. Dr. Smith-Graham made this suggestion on Friday, May 16, 2025. He spoke during a visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions.
The team visited the FWSC, the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), and the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI).
He said an hourly wage system would help casual workers get paid fairly for the time they work. It would also help bring more people in the informal sector into the formal system.
This would make salaries more transparent and give workers access to social protection benefits. “If we pay workers by the hour, they will earn what they deserve. It can also reduce the gap between rich and poor,” he said.
At the NPRA, officials talked about pension rules. They said people who are 50 years and older and permanently out of work can get their tier-2 pension funds. But they must get a letter from their last employer and approval from the Labour Department.
NPRA CEO, Mr. Chris Boadi-Mensah, also spoke. He suggested Ghana should increase the retirement age from 60 to 65 years. He said this will help the pension system last longer.
If nothing changes, it may not have enough money to pay future retirees.