The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has voiced its refusal to extend working hours, even as they express willingness to discuss ways to recover lost instructional time following their recent strike.
The strike, which lasted from June 14 to August 20, 2024, was initiated due to the government’s failure to implement agreed-upon conditions of service for CETAG members.
The strike was finally called off after successful negotiations with the National Labour Commission and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on August 20.
In a statement, CETAG’s national president, Prince Obeng-Himah, made it clear that while the association is open to dialogue regarding the recovery of instructional hours, teachers will not agree to work beyond the usual class hours.
“Some time ago, when it happened, we were compelled to teach up to 9 pm, 10 pm, then we started teaching the following day at 5 am. We are not prepared to go along that tangent. We will teach normally,” Obeng-Himah stated, emphasizing the strain that such extended hours place on teachers.
Obeng-Himah further justified the association’s position by highlighting that the strike was legally justified.
“It was not through any fault of ours because it is on record that ours is the only legal strike that Ghana has seen where we have gone on strike for two solid months, and the National Labour Commission has not been able to pronounce it illegal,” he asserted.
He also noted that attempts to secure court injunctions to stop the strike had failed, reinforcing CETAG’s determination not to compromise their working conditions in the recovery of lost time.
