By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
The Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana (TTAG) has expressed its heartfelt appreciation to the National Labour Commission, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) for their intervention in resolving the two-month-long CETAG strike.
The strike, which began on June 14, was called in response to the government’s failure to implement agreed-upon arbitral awards and improve conditions of service for CETAG members. Following an emergency virtual National Council meeting on August 20, 2024, CETAG members unanimously agreed to suspend the strike with immediate effect.
In an interview with Happy Kaseɛbɔ on Happy 98.9FM, National Coordinator for Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana, Alfred Otabil Afful expressed his sincere gratitude to CETAG for ending the strike, acknowledging the significant impact it had on schools and students.
Afful urged the government to take the necessary steps to prevent future strikes, as CETAG has warned they will resume industrial action in October if their allowances are not paid. He pleaded with the government to fulfill its obligations to CETAG members to maintain the fragile peace and prevent further disruptions.
Meanwhile, Mr. Afful disagreed with the suggestion that the two-month period lost due to the CETAG strike should be compensated by extending the academic calendar. He argued that such a move would impose additional financial burdens on students who pay for hostel accommodations and rent. Instead, he advocated for maintaining the original academic calendar, while encouraging students to intensify their efforts to catch up on missed material.
To facilitate this, Mr. Afful proposed increasing contact hours, allowing students to recover lost ground without prolonging the academic year. This approach, he believed, would strike a balance between ensuring students don’t fall behind and avoiding unnecessary additional costs.
