A one-hour meeting between the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) on Monday ended without an agreement, leaving the nationwide civil service strike firmly in place as the commission sought time to consult other stakeholders before any deal could be reached.
The industrial action, which began on Monday March 9, has directed more than 60,000 civil and local government workers to stay home until further notice. The strike centres on the government’s failure to implement a unique salary structure that has been under negotiation since 2019, with two separate Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed with government representatives remaining unimplemented. Government initially committed to a January 2023 implementation date, later revised to January 2025, but neither deadline was met.
CLOGSAG Executive Secretary Isaac Bampoe Addo said the union was cautiously awaiting the commission’s next steps. “We are satisfied with that for now and expect feedback tomorrow. The National Executive Council has not called off the strike,” he said, adding that the action reflects the deep financial strain and low morale among members.
The Local Government Service Workers Union (LGSWU) has joined the strike in solidarity, broadening the industrial action beyond CLOGSAG’s core membership. Government ministries and district assemblies across the country are operating at significantly reduced capacity, with essential public administration functions affected.
CLOGSAG has been unequivocal that only full implementation of the agreed salary structure will end the strike. “The only thing that can let us rescind this decision is for government to implement the agreement,” Bampoe Addo said.
Talks are expected to resume once the FWSC completes its stakeholder consultations, with the union anticipating a response by Tuesday.
