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The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has announced an indefinite nationwide strike, citing the government’s persistent failure to address their long-standing grievances. The decision was made during an emergency National Council meeting held on Monday, December 30, 2024. CETAG emphasized that the strike action is a direct response to the government’s inability to fulfill its obligations despite numerous engagements and directives from the National Labour Commission (NLC).
In a detailed statement, CETAG outlined the unresolved issues that have pushed its members to lay down their tools. CETAG highlighted significant delays in the implementation of arbitration awards issued by the NLC, including a compulsory award from May 2, 2023. This award mandated the migration of teaching staff in colleges of education onto the pay structure of their affiliate universities. However, this process has seen no progress 20 months after the directive was issued.
The government has also failed to pay one month’s basic salary as compensation for all-year-round work performed by CETAG members in 2022. This payment, stipulated as part of the arbitration award, is yet to be made to staff in 42 colleges of education. Furthermore, new appointment letters, necessary for the migration of staff onto the affiliate universities’ pay structures, remain unissued. These letters were expected by October 2024 following staff audits and alignment with the affiliate universities’ schemes of service.
CETAG also pointed to the non-payment of top-up book and research allowances for staff at Akrokerri College of Education for 2023, describing it as a blatant disregard for obligations. The statement additionally criticized the NLC for failing to enforce its own directives. CETAG claimed to have sent multiple letters urging the commission to compel the government to act, but these efforts have yielded no results.
CETAG’s leadership has made it clear that their members will not resume work until all outstanding issues are resolved. The strike, they stated, is in accordance with Section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). “Members of the union shall not under any circumstance return to the colleges to undertake any official duties, including teaching, supervision of project work, and macro-teaching, until the last pesewa is paid into our accounts,” CETAG declared.
The strike action is expected to disrupt academic activities in all 42 colleges of education nationwide. Teaching, project supervision, and other critical academic functions will be suspended indefinitely, further exacerbating challenges within the educational sector. CETAG’s move underscores their frustration over the prolonged delays and unfulfilled promises. As students and stakeholders brace for the impact, it remains to be seen how the government and the NLC will respond to avert a prolonged standoff.
Victor Amos
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