The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has cautioned that delays in concluding public sector base pay negotiations often deprive workers of fair and realistic salary adjustments.

According to the Deputy National Public Relations Officer of GRNMA, Philemon Agyapong, completing negotiations on time is crucial to ensure that wage increases reflect prevailing inflation rates and the true cost of living of Ghanaian workers.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Wednesday, October 8, he emphasised the need to finalise the 2026 salary talks before the presentation of the national budget later this month.

“The timing is very critical because many times we are not able to come up with the inflation rate and juxtapose it with the living conditions of workers in this country,” he explained.

“When we break with time, government ends up presenting figures it can contain, and that doesn’t allow ample time for genuine negotiation. We should be able to negotiate and get fair treatment before the budget is implemented,” he added.

Mr Agyapong’s comments come amid increasing pressure from labour unions, including the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), urging the government to expedite discussions on the 2026 public sector base pay.

The unions argue that completing the process before the budget presentation will allow the new rates to be factored into next year’s fiscal policy, preventing the recurring delays that often result in arrears and dissatisfaction among public sector workers.

Negotiations between organised labour and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission are expected to continue this week, with both sides yet to agree on the percentage increase for 2026.