The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has declared an indefinite strike effective Thursday, January 2, 2025.
This decision was announced following an Emergency National Council meeting held on Monday, December 30, 2024, citing the government’s failure to address longstanding grievances despite multiple engagements and arbitration awards.
In a statement, CETAG expressed frustration over the government’s continued violation of signed agreements and delays in implementing arbitration awards issued by the National Labour Commission (NLC).
The union said efforts to resolve the issues through dialogue had proven futile, leaving them with no choice but to take this drastic step.
According to CETAG, the government has failed to comply with a compulsory arbitration award issued by the NLC on May 2, 2023.
This award mandated key actions, including the migration of teaching staff in colleges of education onto the pay structure of their affiliate universities, a process that remains incomplete after 20 months.
Additionally, CETAG noted that the government had delayed paying one month’s basic salary as compensation for all-year-round work performed by staff in 2022. This payment, which was part of the arbitration award, is yet to be made to 42 colleges of education.
The union also highlighted the prolonged delay in issuing new appointment letters based on staff audits and the affiliate universities’ schemes of service. These letters, which are crucial for the migration process, were expected to be issued by October 2024 but remain outstanding.
CETAG further pointed to the non-payment of top-up book and research allowances for staff at Akrokerri College of Education for 2023. The union described this as a glaring example of the government’s failure to meet its obligations.
The statement accused the NLC of failing to enforce its own directives, despite multiple letters from CETAG urging the commission to compel the government to act.
CETAG’s leadership stressed that their members would not return to work until all outstanding issues were resolved.
“This declaration of an indefinite strike action is in accordance with section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651),” part of the statement read.
“Members of the union shall not under any circumstance return to the colleges to undertake any official duties including teaching, and supervision of project work and macro-teaching, until the last pesewa is paid into our accounts,” CETAG added.
The strike is expected to disrupt academic activities at colleges of education nationwide, significantly affecting teacher training programs.
CETAG has called on the government and relevant stakeholders to urgently address their concerns, warning that the industrial action will continue indefinitely until their demands are met.
