SHOCK – Salaries of EC boss, and other heads increased by 80% between 2020 and 2024

Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare Reveals Salary Increases for Ghana's Independent Governance Bodies

Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare is a US-based Ghanaian lawyer and scholar. He has made significant claims about salary increases in Ghana. According to him, the salaries of heads of the Electoral Commission (EC), CHRAJ, and other Independent Governance Bodies (IGBs) rose by over 80% from 2020 to 2024.

He criticized this rapid increase. While IGB leaders enjoyed higher salaries, many Ghanaians saw no wage growth during this time.

In a Facebook post on May 20, 2025, he stated that the total salary increase was about 81%. He compared this to the cedi depreciation of around 50-60% during the same period. Many Ghanaians experienced zero or negative real wage growth.

Asare pointed out that ordinary citizens faced debt restructuring. They had to deal with haircuts on bonds, pensions, and savings. Meanwhile, IGBs received backdated raises.

He emphasized that while citizens tightened their belts, IGBs benefited from adjusted emoluments. "They get salary arrears; we get austerity," he wrote.

The Independent Governance Bodies in Ghana include several commissions and offices. These are the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Public Services Commission (PSC), National Media Commission (NMC), National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Lands Commission, and Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

GOGO has seen documents approving salaries for these bodies from 2021 to 2024. The Auditor-General and other IGB heads earned ₵34,397 monthly in 2020. By December 2024, their salaries will rise to ₵62,202.53.

Here’s a summary of their salary increases:

- 2020: ₵34,397
- 2021: ₵35,772.88 (4% increase)
- 2022: ₵38,276.98 (7% increase)
- 2023: ₵49,760.08 (30% increase)
- 2024a: ₵61,204.89 (23% increase)
- 2024b: ₵62,202.53 (1.6% increase)

The total increase from 2020 to December 2024 is about 81%.

Asare reiterated that while IGBs received substantial raises, ordinary citizens struggled financially due to austerity measures.

He noted that facilities and benefits for IGB members have been approved but are not yet available for review by GOGO.

Finally, he mentioned that salaries for 2025 will be determined in 2029 due to slow processes regarding Article 71 emoluments.