The Executive Director for Educate Africa Institute, William Boadi has criticized the government for mishandling the ongoing impasse between the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) over the former’s Conditions of Service, leading to its strike action.
Recounting the sequence of events, the educationist and activist, indicated that the protracted negotiations, which began in August 2021, were intended to be concluded by November 2021, with implementation set for January 2022.
However, Mr Boadi noted that persistent delays by the FWSC led to a series of strikes by CETAG, adding that the first strike occurred in December 2021, which was temporarily suspended after the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) assured swift negotiations during a meeting on January 10, 2022.
“Following a meeting with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on January 10, 2022, assurances were made for swift negotiations, leading CETAG to suspend the strike. However, negotiations stalled again, prompting another strike in December 2022. Despite assurances from the Minister of Education on December 7, 2022, to resolve issues within two weeks, no progress was made, leading CETAG to resume strike action on January 6, 2023”.
William Boadi , Executive Director, Educate Africa Institute (EAI)
NLC Arbitration and Subsequent Developments
Furthermore, the Executive Director of Educate Africa Institute pointed out that the National Labour Commission (NLC), in an attempt to resolve the matter issued an arbitration award on May 2, 2023.
According to him, the award modified the implementation date to January 1, 2023, and included compensation equivalent to one month’s salary, rather than the two months CETAG had requested.
Mr Boadi contended that despite this ruling, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission failed to comply by the deadline of October 30, 2023.
He disclosed that the situation prompted CETAG to pursue compliance through legal channels, resulting in the NLC issuing directives to FWSC on August 31, 2023, and reiterating these directives on August 31, 2024.
Nonetheless, the educationist stated that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has failed to comply with the NLC’s directives.
“Recent misinformation attempts by GTEC and NLC, including false claims of payments and misleading statements regarding academic assessments, have further complicated the situation. CETAG remains committed to its members’ rights under the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) and the Constitution of Ghana”.
William Boadi , Executive Director, Educate Africa Institute (EAI)
William Boadi, the Educate Africa Institute’s Executive Director in his critique, condemned the government’s recent actions to suppress CETAG through legal intimidation, including the NLC’s attempts to secure injunctions against lawful strike actions.
He described these actions as unjustifiable and counterproductive, exacerbating tensions rather than addressing the underlying issues.
Call for Responsible Governance
In his call for immediate resolution of the impasse, Mr Boadi called on the government to adopt a more responsible and proactive approach to resolving the dispute.
He criticized the decision to halt July salaries for CETAG members, labeling it as an unjustifiable tactic that fails to address the core issues at stake.
Mr Boadi stressed that the implementation of the NLC’s arbitration award is non-negotiable and must be adhered to without further delay.
He urged all stakeholders to uphold the rule of law and respect workers’ rights, emphasizing the need for fairness and justice in resolving the dispute.
In his closing remarks, the Executive Director of Educate Africa Institute, William Boadi called on the government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize the interests of Ghana and ensure a fair and just resolution to the CETAG dispute.
He underscored the importance of adhering to the NLC’s arbitration award and addressing the legitimate concerns of CETAG members to restore harmony within the country’s educational sector.
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