CETAG Starts New Year With Nationwide Strike Following Government's Failure To Meet Their Demands

• The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has declared an indefinite strike
• CETAG said their strike follows the government's refusal to honour agreed-upon terms and pay them what is due
• CETAG said its members would not return to work until they receive payment of what is due them

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has gone on an indefinite strike starting today, Thursday, January 2, 2025.

According to a statement announcing the decision, the association noted that the strike action was decided upon during an emergency National Council meeting on December 31, 2024.

CETAG said the strike has become necessary because the National Labour Commission (NLC) has failed to address concerns about their conditions of service.

The association said its members are fed up with the government’s repeated breach of agreed-upon terms and the government’s failure to honour the compulsory arbitration issued by the NLC

Read also

WASSCE: Ghanaian lady sheds tears of joy as she excels in exams, video evokes joy

The National Council of CETAG said to ensure an effective strike action, teachers, supervisors and other workers under CETAG should not go to work.

It noted that till the payment is made to their accounts, members of the association would not return to school.

CETAG signs MoU with the government

Last year, the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the government signed a memorandum of understanding to end a similar strike.

CETAG embarked on a strike on June 14, 2024, to protest the government’s failure to implement agreed-upon arbitral awards and negotiated service conditions set by the National Labour Commission.

CETAG vowed not to resume work until the government took action. The prolonged strike action brought academic activities in all 46 colleges of education to a halt.

Students were stranded on campuses, causing some to pack up and go home as the strike dragged on.

Read also

WAEC announces ongoing registration for WASSCE resit examination

Following the government’s meeting with CETAG on August 19, 2024, Maxwell Bunu, CETAG’s National Trustee, said most of their concerns had been addressed.

He said that while the CETAG delegation was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the government, it would have to present a report of what ensued to the CETAG leadership for an official decision to be announced.

PRINCOF urges CETAG to call off strike

YEN.com.gh reported that the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) had urged the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to call off its strike.

PRINCOF, in a letter on August 5, 2024, said that while it acknowledged CETAG's concerns concerning the implementation of the arbitration awards by the National Labour Commission (NLC), it believed a speedy resolution would be achieved when the teachers returned to the classroom.

The appeal followed CETAG and the government signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, establishing the government’s commitment to implementing the NLC arbitrary awards.

Read also

Asiedu Nketia calls for creation of committee to determine honorees at National Awards

According to PRINCOF, the MoU was a concrete action the government took to demonstrate its commitment to addressing CETAG's concerns.

Proofread by Samuel Gitonga, Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh