"They Can Add The August Salaries": CETAG Remains Defiant Amidst Salary Freeze

• The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana has taken a defiant stance against the government's decision to freeze their salaries
• CETAG said prior to the commencement of the strike, members had discussed the possiblity of salary freezes and had prepared adequately for this
• The teachers' association also boldly stated that its members would not return from the strike action until the government meets their demands

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has said the government's attempt to freeze their salaries following their prolonged strike does not deter them.

CETAG has been on strike for more than six weeks and is determined to remain on strike until the government addresses their demands and pays them what is due.

In an interview with JoyNews, Fidelis Kamaayi, a member of CETAG’s national communications team, noted that the association would not back down from its demand for better service conditions.

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He noted that before the commencement of the strike, members had been made very well aware that should the strike be prolonged, the government would likely freeze their salaries as a strategy to force them to break ranks and weaken their resolve.

He said, as a result, CETAG members had prepared adequately for such a happenstance and thus, are not moved by the government’s latest directive to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.

CETAG dares government over salary freezes

Kamaayi further said that the decision to suspend their salaries had in fact energised CETAG members.

“They are saying that they should even take the August salary in addition because until all the arbitrary awards are implemented, they can go ahead and continue to freeze the salaries,” he stated.

He noted that he is hopeful the strike would not have to last very long.

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Kamaayi said the Colleges of Education are preparing to receive new students in the upcoming academic year and final year students are preparing to write their final papers for graduation.

He said should the strike prolong any further it may affect the academic calendar for the Colleges of Education.

He hoped to avert any more trouble and believes government would finally succumb to their demands and address them as expected.

GTEC suspends July 2024 salaries

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has directed the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to suspend the July 2024 salaries for members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana.

The suspension follows a directive from the Minister of Education, which was in reaction to CETAG members' refusal to return to work during an ongoing strike.

The Ministry of Education has described the ongoing strike as illegal and has urged the CETAG members to return to work.

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While CETAG teaching staff will have their salaries suspended as a result of the directive, college principals are exempted.

Why CETAG is on strike

YEN.com.gh reported that CETAG embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike following the government's alleged failure to address the resolution of their service conditions.

The association had previously given a deadline of May 31 for implementation of the National Labour Commission's (NLC) arbitral award orders and negotiated service conditions.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh