US-based Ghanaian filmmaker and entrepreneur Leila Jewel Djansi has called on business owners in Ghana to adopt hourly wages and commission-based pay structures, arguing that such systems could significantly improve employee attitudes toward work.

In a post shared on her verified Facebook page, Monday, January 5, 2026, Djansi wrote, “I own a business in Ghana, so I am interested. Ghanaian business owners need to introduce hourly wages and commission-based pay. Attitude to work will change drastically. Who’s in?”

Hourly wages and commission-based pay could promote accountability, productivity, and fairness, as workers would be compensated directly for time worked and output delivered. Additionally, such systems may reduce absenteeism and encourage employees to take greater ownership of their roles.

Faustina Apogyanbila Ayamga, in the comments, said, “This initiative could significantly enhance productivity and economic development.”

However, implementing such a payment system in Ghana’s largely informal and semi-formal economy could present challenges, including wage instability for workers, difficulties in monitoring work hours, and the need for stronger labour protections.

"May years ago, I tried to pay my employees an hourly wage, bassed on their daily earnings divided by eight. Then I offered them no-weekly payouts. Then also salaries paid through the bank. Needless to say, only one was successful. Their trade union came down so hard on me. Why? I thought it would work in their favour but noooo [shock face emoji]," Kofi Dom wrote in the comments.

Djansi’s intervention refreshes conversations around workplace efficiency, employee motivation, and private sector productivity amid Ghana’s broader economic pressures and significantly underregulated informal and semi-formal sectors.

While no official policy proposal has been announced, her remarks underline the need for innovation in employer-employee compensation models, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to improve performance and sustainability.

Any shift toward hourly or commission-based pay would require clear frameworks, transparency, and adherence to Ghana’s labour laws to ensure fair outcomes for both employers and workers.