Labour expert Austin Gamey has described Ghana’s Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) as outdated and poorly suited to the demands of modern governance, advocating for its replacement with a productivity-based remuneration system for public sector employees.

Speaking in an interview on Class 91.3 FM, Gamey argued that the Single Spine model no longer reflects the realities of a 21st-century economy and has outlived its usefulness.

He said that in a globally competitive environment, it is unsustainable to maintain a system that, in his view, rewards workers without adequately linking pay to performance. “Remuneration in the public sector must be tied to measurable productivity rather than seniority or rigid pay structures,” he said.

Describing the current system as an anachronism, Gamey explained that it fails to meet both the aspirations of workers and the efficiency requirements of contemporary governance. He urged policymakers to move away from preserving the form or name of the Single Spine Salary Structure and instead focus on designing a modern, comprehensive pay framework.

He proposed adopting a broadband salary structure that accommodates all categories of workers while streamlining or eliminating what he described as excessive and often unjustified allowances embedded in the current system.

While stressing that public sector workers deserve fair and competitive compensation, Gamey emphasised that salaries must be based on clear productivity benchmarks. He added that a transparent, performance-driven pay system would boost worker motivation, improve efficiency, and reduce frequent labour agitations linked to wage disputes.

His comments come amid renewed debate over public sector pay reforms, following President John Dramani Mahama’s pledge to review both the Single Spine Salary Structure and the country’s pensions system.

President Mahama made the commitment during the 54th National Delegates Congress of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Accra, acknowledging widespread dissatisfaction with the current salary regime.

While noting that the Single Spine was introduced under former President John Agyekum Kufuor to promote fairness and transparency, President Mahama admitted that its implementation has not met expectations. He assured public sector workers that his administration is committed to reforms that will address longstanding concerns and align compensation with modern economic realities.