Government set to hold talks with striking CETAG members today

By: Ama Gyamfuah

The Ministry of Labour and Employment Relations (MLER), through the Fair Wages Commission, has scheduled a meeting with the leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association Ghana (CETAG) and other stakeholders on Monday, August 19.

The meeting aims to address the concerns of CETAG members, who have been on a nationwide strike for the last two months, causing academic work to come to a standstill at all 46 Colleges of Education across the country.

The meeting will also include key stakeholders including President of CETAG, representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Director of Tertiary Education (Ministry of Education), the Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), the Director General of GTEC, and the Head of the Public Financial Management Unit (CPMU).

On June 14, CETAG members across all 46 Colleges of Education began a strike action over government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s Arbitral Award and the agreed-upon service conditions.

Among their key demands are the payment of one month’s salary to each member for additional duties performed in 2022 and the application of agreed university allowance rates to eligible CETAG members.

The standoff has halted academic activities, disrupting teaching and learning on all campuses.

In response, the leadership of the College of Education Students Association has suggested closing the colleges to allow students to return home while the issue is resolved.

However, the government has strongly opposed this, claiming that progress has been made in negotiations with CETAG and that members will soon return to campus to resume teaching.

Meanwhile, the President of PRINCOF, Prof. Samuel Atintono, has assured the public that they are prepared to adjust the academic calendar and restore normal academic activities once CETAG members return.