Cape coast: Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Vice President, has announced that 2026 will not be a year for major renegotiation of conditions of service across the public sector as government focuses on implementing reforms to the country's remuneration system.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Vice President made this announcement during the 2026 National Labour Conference in Ho, themed 'Strengthening Industrial Harmony as a Catalyst for Accelerated Economic Growth and National Development.' She stated that instead of comprehensive salary negotiations, the government plans to implement targeted and modest improvements for selected sectors as an interim measure while foundational reforms to Ghana's remuneration framework are underway.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang highlighted that organised labour had understood the rationale behind this proposal, which aims to manage expectations, maintain industrial harmony, and provide the necessary space for the new remuneration framework to take effect. She emphasized the importance of sustaining industrial peace for economic recovery and national development.
The Vice President also reaffirmed the government's dedication to protecting pensioners' welfare by preserving pension funds and fulfilling statutory obligations promptly. She assured that the government would continue to honour its commitments to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and other Tier Two pension schemes.
Additionally, she underscored the need for accelerating economic growth through strategic initiatives, including the government's proposed 24-hour economy policy. This policy aims to maximize resource utilization and productive capacity by encouraging businesses to operate in multiple shifts, supporting Ghana's transition to an export-driven economy, and creating more employment opportunities.
She urged organised labour, employers, and stakeholders to collaborate with the government in strengthening industrial harmony and building a resilient economy for sustainable growth and improved living standards for all Ghanaians.