Salary increments between 2017 – 2024 under Nana Addo/Bawumia tenure – Poli Nagbligu

In an Official Facebook Post on 10 October 2026, Poli Nagbligu shared a graphic highlighting salary increments implemented for public sector workers during the tenure of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The post comes at a time when discussions about workers’ welfare, teacher strikes, and salary conditions continue to dominate public discourse across Ghana.

He outlined annual salary adjustments from 2017 to 2024, presenting what supporters of the previous administration describe as evidence of efforts made to improve the incomes of public sector workers despite economic challenges over the period. According to the figures shared, salaries were increased by 12.5 percent in 2017, 11 percent in 2018, 10 percent in 2019, and 15 percent in 2020.

For 2021, the post indicated a four percent salary increase accompanied by a 15 percent interim premium. In 2022, workers reportedly received a 15 percent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) on base salaries, a measure introduced at a time when many households were struggling with rising prices and inflationary pressures.

The figures showed a significant jump in 2023, with a reported 30 percent salary increment. For 2024, the graphic stated that workers received a 23 percent adjustment from January to June, followed by a 25 percent increment from July to December. The post further noted that these figures did not include several allowances approved during the period under review.

The publication has generated considerable discussion online, especially among workers and teachers who have been debating whether successive governments have done enough to improve living conditions. While some commentators point to the annual increments as evidence that the previous administration sought to cushion workers against economic difficulties, others argue that salary increases should always be examined alongside inflation, exchange rate depreciation, and the rising cost of living.

For many workers, the debate is not only about percentage increments but about purchasing power. A salary adjustment may appear significant on paper, yet if inflation rises faster than wages, workers may still feel worse off despite receiving more money. This is one of the reasons salary discussions continue to provoke strong reactions whenever comparisons are made between different administrations.

The post has also resurfaced conversations about allowances such as the Continuous Professional Development allowance, digital support allowance, and other benefits that teachers and public servants received during the period. Supporters of the Akufo-Addo administration argue that these interventions complemented annual salary negotiations and provided additional support to workers.

Critics, however, maintain that the true measure of success should be whether workers experienced meaningful improvements in their overall standard of living. They argue that rising transportation costs, food prices, housing expenses, and utility bills often consumed much of the gains from salary adjustments.

Regardless of where one stands in the debate, the figures shared by Poli Nagbligu have added another dimension to the ongoing national conversation about workers’ welfare, government policies, and the economic realities faced by public servants. As political discussions intensify ahead of future elections, salary increments and living standards are likely to remain central issues in Ghana’s public discourse.

Source: Poli Nagbligu, Official Facebook Post, 10 October, 2026.