The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the government have signed a memorandum of understanding, signaling a potential end to the prolonged strike that began on June 14.
The strike, initiated over the government’s failure to implement arbitral awards and service conditions set by the National Labour Commission, left campuses deserted and students stranded across the country.
While the memorandum addresses many of CETAG’s concerns, the final decision to resume work will depend on further consultations with the association’s leadership.
CETAG’s National Trustee, Maxwell Bunu, expressed cautious optimism about the agreement, emphasizing that most of their demands, including the all-year-round work schedule, unfreezing of July salaries, and payment of August salaries, have been met.
He urged the association to consider ending the strike, stating, “I don’t think with my experience here, it will be prudent for CETAG to remain on strike… We cannot continue to be on strike forever.”
However, he noted that the final decision would be made after discussions with CETAG’s council.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, assured that steps have been taken to compensate for the lost academic time.
He called on students to return to campus promptly, emphasizing that “PRINCOF and CETAG have been tasked to work together to make sure that the hours lost are made up in a very short time so that it does not affect the next academic year.”
