The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has announced its intention to embark on an indefinite strike if the government fails to address its long-standing grievances by December 31, 2024.

The decision, taken at an Emergency National Council meeting on December 20, 2024, comes in response to what the association described as the government’s “deliberate and incessant violations” of signed agreements and roadmaps related to a compulsory arbitration award issued by the National Labour Commission (NLC) on May 2, 2023.

“In spite of the Union’s good faith in calling off our strike action on 20th August 2024 based on the appeals by the Vice President’s Office, Minister for Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, and Minister of Education as well as the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, the Government has blatantly breached again the agreement reached with CETAG on 19th August 2024”.
CETAG

The dispute dates back to May 2023 when the NLC issued an arbitration award compelling the government to fulfill specific obligations to CETAG members.

Grounds for the Strike

CETAG outlined four major issues that have necessitated the impending strike. The statement noted that twenty months after the initial agreement, the government has yet to migrate colleges of education teaching staff to the pay structure of affiliate universities.

CETAG further noted that the government has not issued appointment letters reflecting the staff audit report and affiliate universities’ scheme of service, a critical step for migration to be effected.

Additionally, CETAG pointed out that the government has failed to pay a one-month basic salary compensation to 42 colleges, ordered by the NLC for all-year-round work done by CETAG members in 2022. Finally, CETAG disclosed that staff at Akrokerri College of Education are yet to receive top-up allowances for 2023.

Prior Efforts to Resolve the Impasse

CETAG emphasized its reluctance to resort to industrial action, highlighting several attempts to resolve the issues through dialogue. The statement noted that the association suspended a previous strike on August 20, 2024, following appeals from several stakeholders. on Education.

However, the government’s alleged breach of the agreement reached on August 19, 2024, has left CETAG with no alternative but to consider industrial action.

In a press release issued on December 16, 2024, CETAG reiterated its concerns and called on stakeholders to intervene. These efforts, according to the association, have yielded no “concrete outcome”.

“In order not to further distract the academic calendar and for effective and quality teacher education, CETAG urges all stakeholders in teacher education including the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), Affiliate Universities, Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG), and the Education Sub-Committee of the Transition Teams from both outgoing and incoming administrations to get involved to ensure the smooth migration of colleges of education teaching staff onto the affiliate universities pay structure”.
CETAG

The National Council of CETAG warned that it will no longer tolerate further delays or breaches of agreements. Should the government fail to address the outstanding concerns by December 31, 2024, CETAG vowed to commence an indefinite strike in accordance with Section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

CETAG’s announcement underscores the deepening tension between the government and teacher unions in Ghana, with the potential to disrupt teacher education and impact the broader educational sector.