The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG), the two major associations in Ghana’s 46 Colleges of Education have threatened to embark on an industrial strike action within the next five days due to poor conditions of service.

In a joint communiqué from the two unions yesterday, November 06, 2022, they enumerated a number of welfare reforms Government must implement in order for them not to embark on their intended strike.

“The leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG) wish to express our disappointment at the way Government has handled issues affecting the welfare of our members in the colleges of education over the years.
“We want to state unequivocally that by Friday, 11th November, 2022, if our demands are have not been met, we shall reactivate our indefinite strike actions which we suspended on January 24 and April 14, 2022 respectively.”
Communique from CETAG and CENTSAG

Notable amongst the demands of CETAG and CENTSAG include a response from the Ministry of Education to pay compensations owed them. They also called on Government to expedite work towards putting First degree CENTSAG members on 17H on the SSSS from April, 2023 which was the agreed time determined by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to include graduate CENTSAG members on the salary structure.

The Colleges of Education unions are also asking for the finalisation of Conditions of Service (CoS) negotiations which began on August 14, 2022. They also claimed there were variations in their fuel, vehicle maintenance, and off-campus allowances when compared to that of other analogous institutions. And so that should be resolved as well.

CETAG and CENTSAG gave Government an ultimatum of five working days to respond to their demands. A failure from their employer, i.e. the Government of Ghana to do so will mean that effective Friday, 11th November, 2022, all working and non-working staff in the 46 colleges of education across the length and breadth of the country will not work.

The intended strike is meant to be an indefinite one. That is, the communiqué did not determine when the strike action will end should it start.

Ongoing Strikes In the Education Sector

Meanwhile, some three Teacher Unions are already on an industrial strike action.

The leadership of the the National Association of Graduate Teachers, Ghana National Association of Teachers and Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana, declared a strike on Friday, November 4, 2022.

The industrial strike is in response to their displeasure in the appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah as the Director- General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The unions had previously given Government to rescind its decision and appoint one of their own as Director-General. Since Government did not comply with their demand, the unions, declared a strike action.

It is note worthy that, the unions held a meeting with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations on Friday, November 04, 2022. However, the meeting was inconclusive and was rescheduled to today, November 07, 2022.

The President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, Reverend Isaac Owusu, said they were optimistic of getting a favourable response from the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations on Monday.

On his part, the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Bright Wireko-Brobbey, said the Ministry was hopeful that the matter would be settled. The Deputy Minister also urged the unions to call off the strike.