The government is set to meet with striking members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) today, as the nationwide strike by educators enters its third month.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment Relations, through the Fair Wages Commission, has called on CETAG leadership and other stakeholders to address the concerns that have stalled academic work across all 46 Colleges of Education in the country.
The meeting, scheduled for August 19, will include representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), among others.
CETAG members initiated the strike on June 14, citing the government’s failure to implement the National Labour Commission’s Arbitral Award and agreed service conditions. Their demands include the payment of a month’s salary for additional duties performed in 2022 and the application of allowance rates equivalent to those of public universities.
The prolonged strike has halted academic activities nationwide, prompting the College of Education Students Association to suggest closing the colleges until a resolution is reached. However, the government has strongly opposed this proposal, insisting that negotiations with CETAG are progressing.
In response to the ongoing disruption, the President of the Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), Prof. Samuel Atintono, assured the public that once CETAG members return, efforts will be made to adjust the academic calendar and restore normalcy.
He stated, “We are ready to fix the academic calendar to restore the academic work to normal as soon as the CETAG members come back to campus.”