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President John Dramani Mahama has reappointed Dr George Smith-Graham as Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), marking a return to leadership for the Commission’s pioneering head at a critical time for Ghana’s pay and compensation framework.
Dr Smith-Graham, who served as the FWSC’s first CEO from 2009 to 2017, is expected to officially resume office on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, replacing Mr Benjamin Arthur, a seasoned labour relations expert who has held the role since January 2022.
Emelia Ennin Abbey, Head of Public Affairs at the Commission, confirmed the appointment to the Ghana News Agency, noting that further details on the transition would be shared following Dr Smith-Graham’s formal assumption of office.
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Dr Smith-Graham’s reappointment is widely seen as a strategic move, given his foundational role in the design and rollout of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) — a key component of Ghana’s public sector pay reform introduced under the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission Act, 2007 (Act 737).
With over 30 years of experience in compensation management, public sector reforms, and strategic policy development, Dr Smith-Graham is expected to spearhead a new phase of pay equity and reform, particularly as government signals a long-term shift towards transforming the FWSC into an Independent Emoluments Commission.
Operating under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the FWSC is tasked with ensuring fair, transparent, and systematic wage administration in Ghana’s public service. The Commission also advises government on wages, salaries, job grading, classification, and related emoluments.
Dr Smith-Graham’s leadership is expected to provide the experience and policy continuity needed to revitalise compensation negotiations, streamline wage disparities, and guide the Commission through upcoming legislative reforms aimed at insulating public sector pay systems from political interference.
The reappointment has been met with cautious optimism among public sector unions and labour analysts, many of whom view his comeback as a potential turning point in Ghana’s long-standing challenges with equitable wage structures.
As Ghana faces mounting fiscal pressures and calls for wage rationalisation, Dr Smith-Graham’s second tenure is likely to be both challenging and pivotal for the nation’s public sector workforce.
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