Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare a renowned US-based Ghanaian lawyer and scholar has blown alarms on Article 71 beneficiaries who were quietly awarded backdated raises whilst the ordinary Ghanaians and pensioners were facing the Domestic Dept Exchange programme (DDEP).
He asserted that while citizens and pensioners were forced to tighten their belts heads of Independent Governance Bodies and other Article 71 quietly awarded backdated raises.
Stephen Kwaku Asare dropped a bombshell on how salaries of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC), the Auditor-General’s Department and other heads of Independent Governance Bodies (IGBs) increased in four years.
According to Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, the salaries of EC bosses, CHRAJ, Auditor General and other Independent Governance Bodies increased by more than 80% between 2020 and 2024.
He criticised the rate at which the salaries of the heads of the IGBs increased and noted that while the heads of the independent bodies were enjoying salary increases, Ghanaians saw no growth in their wages during the same period.
In a Facebook post, on 20 May 2025, he wrote, “Total increase from 2020 to 2024? About 81%. Now, compare that to: Cedi depreciation (2020–2024): ~50–60%; Real wage growth: basically zero or negative for many Ghanaians; Debt restructuring for ordinary citizens: haircuts on bonds, pensions, and savings.
“While citizens and pensioners were forced to ‘share the burden’ and ‘tighten belts,’ IGBs and surely other Article 71 beneficiaries were quietly awarded backdated raises,”
“They get salary arrears, we get austerity. They get ‘adjusted emoluments’, we get emergency levies,” he added.
The Independent Governance Bodies in Ghana include the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Public Services Commission (PSC), the National Media Commission (NMC), the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), the Lands Commission, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Read Azar’s full post below:
GOGO has sighted a document approving 2021-2024 salaries for chairpersons and members of Independent Governance Bodies (IGBs).
GOGO can confirm that the Auditor-General and other IGB heads were “earning” ₵34,397 monthly in 2020, rising to ₵62,202.53 by Dec 2024.
Let’s take a closer look. The Table below shows salary by year and year on year increase. In 2024, there is an adjustment for January to June (a) and July to December (b).
2020 ₵ 34,397.00 —
2021 ₵ 35,772.88 4.0%
2022 ₵ 38,276.98 7.0%
2023 ₵ 49,760.08 30.0%
2024a ₵ 61,204.89 23.0%
2024b ₵ 62,202.53 1.6%
Total increase from 2020 to 2024b? About 81%.
Now compare that to:
- Cedi depreciation (2020–2024): ~50–60%
- Real wage growth: Basically zero or negative for many Ghanaians.
- Debt restructuring for ordinary citizens: Haircuts on bonds, pensions, and savings.
While citizens and pensioners were forced to “share the burden” and “tighten belts,” IGBs and surely other Article 71 beneficiaries were quietly awarded backdated raises.
They get salary arrears. We get austerity.
They get “adjusted emoluments.” We get emergency levies.
Note that the Table reports salaries only. The facilities/privileges/benefits for Chairpersons and Members of the IGBs have been approved, but not immediately available to GOGO.
And oh—salary for 2025? To be determined in 2029. Because Article 71 emoluments move at the speed of … hindsight.
The Fofie Committee has finished us.
Da Yie!
