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Tag: CETAG

  • Govt will resolve your concerns within two weeks – Education Minister to CETAG

    Govt will resolve your concerns within two weeks – Education Minister to CETAG

    The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has urged the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to give the government fourteen days to address their grievances.


    In an interaction with the media on Tuesday, November 25, the Minister indicated that the government has already begun processes to resolve some of these issues, which trace back to 2022.

    “We are negotiating. There were issues that the National Labour Commission made a declaration and award to CETAG that have not been respected by government since 2022. We are seeing how we can remedy the situation.We have also requested that they consider calling off the strike, and we have requested for two weeks to see what the state can do. But we will fix it within the two weeks,” he assured.


    Currently, CETAG has laid down its tools nationwide over the government’s failure to fully implement the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) arbitral award issued on May 2, 2023. All 46 Colleges of Education across the country have been affected by the strike.


    In June, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson assured CETAG andother two unions in Ghana’s tertiary education sector of receiving their allowances on time.


    He made this known to the unions on Tuesday, June 10, when they met to discuss the disbursement of the Book and Research Allowance.


    The meeting, which was prompted by a request from the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), aimed to address concerns over the payment of the allowance.


    Dr Forson assured the union leaders that the allowance had been fully captured in the 2025 budget and that he had initiated the necessary processes to ensure its release.


    “I assured them that the allowance has been fully captured in the 2025 Budget, and I have since initiated the necessary processes in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education to ensure its release,” the sector minister shared on his X page.


    He also commended the unions for their constructive proposal to establish a dedicated Labour Relations Desk within the Ministry of Finance, which would strengthen coordination and enhance dialogue between the ministry and labour stakeholders.


    During the meeting, Dr Forson said he updated the union leaders on ongoing payroll reforms, particularly the audit being conducted by the Auditor-General.


    He added that preliminary findings indicate a significant presence of ghost names on the payroll, which, if addressed, could yield substantial savings for the public purse.


    Dr Forson urged the union leaders to lend their support to this important national exercise, emphasising that cleaning the payroll was not only about fiscal prudence but also about restoring integrity and fairness in public sector compensation.


    In September, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem has urged the coalition of unpaid teachers to exercise patience, assuring that the government has taken steps to address their grievances.


    Addressing the aggrieved Newly Posted Teachers group on Tuesday, September 30, the Deputy Finance Minister disclosed that the government will include funds to settle their 13-month salary arrears in next year’s budget.


    “I was a teacher, and I was posted to teach, and I was not paid for 8 months. I can relate perfectly well with all of you. The Finance Minister [Dr Ato Forson] says he sympathises with you, and he has briefed President John Dramani Mahama, and he has been given the green light to make sure he fixes your problem.


    He added, “The Finance Minister will present the next budget, and he will make provision for all of you to be catered for; you should be very happy that your problem will be fixed; that is the good news. You will be paid.”


    On Tuesday, September 30, the group, comprising graduates from Colleges of Education and universities, submitted a petition to the Finance Ministry calling on the government to clear debts owed to them.


    The group had initially declared its intention to hit the streets over unpaid salaries on Tuesday, September 23. However, speaking to Citi News, the group’s Lead Convener, Simon Kofi Nartey, noted that the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities had yet to respond to their earlier petitions, prompting them to reschedule the protest to September 30.


    Simon Kofi Nartey called on the government to settle its 12-month and 8-month arrears within the given ultimatum. According to him, the group will have no option but to take to the streets if the government does not treat their demands with urgency.


    “It is rather unfortunate that, as we speak, nothing has been done about the concerns we raised at our press conference. We have no option but to take to the streets to let Ghanaians know what is happening. We have already met with the Greater Accra Regional Police Command and agreed on September 30 for the demonstration,” he said.

  • UTAG, TUTAG, CETAG assured of receiving allowances on time

    UTAG, TUTAG, CETAG assured of receiving allowances on time

    Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has assured the leadership of three unions in Ghana’s tertiary education sector of receiving their allowances on time.

    He made this known to the unions on Tuesday, June 10, when they met to discuss the disbursement of the Book and Research Allowance. 

    The meeting, which was prompted by a request from the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), aimed to address concerns over the payment of the allowance.

    Dr Forson assured the union leaders that the allowance had been fully captured in the 2025 budget and that he had initiated the necessary processes to ensure its release.

    “I assured them that the allowance has been fully captured in the 2025 Budget, and I have since initiated the necessary processes in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education to ensure its release,” the sector minister shared on his X page.

    He also commended the unions for their constructive proposal to establish a dedicated Labour Relations Desk within the Ministry of Finance, which would strengthen coordination and enhance dialogue between the ministry and labour stakeholders.

    During the meeting, Dr Forson said he updated the union leaders on ongoing payroll reforms, particularly the audit being conducted by the Auditor-General.

    He added that preliminary findings indicate a significant presence of ghost names on the payroll, which, if addressed, could yield substantial savings for the public purse. 

    Dr Forson urged the union leaders to lend their support to this important national exercise, emphasising that cleaning the payroll was not only about fiscal prudence but also about restoring integrity and fairness in public sector compensation.

    This comes at a time when members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), have withdrawn from their posts over delays in their 2024 Collective Agreement since June 2.

    A 10-day injunction has been placed on the nationwide strike after the Industrial and Labour Division of the High Court in Accra described the protest as illegal.

    But the GRNMA has disclosed that it is yet to formally receive a court order restraining its ongoing strike.

    Public Relations Officer of the GRNMA, Joseph Krampah, has insisted that the group will continue its strike until an official injunction notice is served.

    According to him, although the association is a law-abiding group, it cannot obey unofficial reports.

    “They think that they should serve us a letter; we can’t prevent them, but what constitutes an illegal strike? When in Ghana has the Labour Commission said that this strike is legal? It is only illegal when they don’t inform your office about the intended strike, and we did—you had the letter,” Krampah said.

    Meanwhile, Health Minister Mintah Akandoh has revealed that the government will not be able to meet the conditions of service for the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), currently on strike, this year.

    Engaging the press, the sector minister announced that the conditions of service being requested to be implemented were not captured in the 2025 budget statement; hence, it will “completely throw the economy off gear if implemented in the manner it currently exists.”

    “We are mindful of the serious economic consequences of unbudgeted expenditure and want to avoid the economic slippages that have led to the hardship in the recent past,” the Health Minister revealed.

  • CETAG begins indefinite strike today

    CETAG begins indefinite strike today

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has commenced an indefinite strike, effective today, January 2, in response to unresolved grievances with the government.

    The announcement follows an Emergency National Council meeting held on Monday, December 30, 2024. In a statement issued on December 31, CETAG indicated that this decision stems from earlier strike notices served on September 26 and December 23, 2024, which the National Labour Commission (NLC) failed to address.

    According to CETAG, the strike action has become necessary due to what it describes as the government’s repeated violations of signed agreements and roadmaps concerning the outstanding compulsory arbitration award issued by the NLC on May 2, 2023.

    “The National Council of CETAG wishes to state unequivocally that members of the union shall not under any circumstance return to the colleges to undertake any official duties, including teaching, supervision of project work, and macro-teaching, until the last pesewa is paid into our accounts. This declaration of an indefinite strike action is in accordance with section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651),” the statement emphasized.

    CETAG’s indefinite strike is expected to disrupt academic activities in the 46 Colleges of Education across the country until their demands are fully met.

    Declatration-of-Strike-Press-Release-Jan-20251Download
  • We will strike again if you don’t fulfill your promises – CETAG to govt

    We will strike again if you don’t fulfill your promises – CETAG to govt

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has called off its two-month strike, as announced in a statement on Tuesday, August 20.

    CETAG indicated, however, that if the government does not adhere to the agreed-upon road map, the strike could be resumed at the end of October 2024.

    The strike, which began on June 14, was in response to the government’s failure to implement promised arbitral awards and improve the conditions of service for its members.

    According to the statement, CETAG’s decision to end the strike came after an emergency virtual National Council meeting on August 20, 2024, where members unanimously agreed to resume work immediately.

    “The decision to call off the strike, according to the statement follows CETAG’s meeting with the Office of the Vice President on August 15, 2024, at the Jubilee House and the assurance given to stand surety for resolution of the impasse,” the statement read.

    This resolution followed a meeting with the Office of the Vice President on August 15, 2024, at the Jubilee House, where commitments were made to address the issues.

    CETAG has outlined specific conditions the government must meet to prevent a future strike.

    “The frozen July 2024 and August 2024 salaries shall be paid together at the end of August 2024.

    2. That, the offline migration of the staff shall be completed at the end of August 2024.

    3. The offline migration data shall be sent to all 46 colleges of education for verification by individual staff before processing by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) in September 2024.

    4. That, payment after migration will reflect in October 2024 salaries and that, the parties shall meet to agree on the payment plan for all arrears immediately.

    5. That, the nomenclature to be used for migrating Senior Members of the Teaching staff shall be Assistant Lecturer, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Professor in line with the affiliate universities’ Scheme of Service.

    6. That, compensation for All-Year-Round work done in 2022 shall be paid by the end of August 2024, and, 7. That, all holders of researched Master’s degrees shall be migrated as Assistant Lecturers,” it added.

  • CETAG ends strike after consultation with govt

    CETAG ends strike after consultation with govt

    An agreement has been reached between the Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) and the government, following months of strike action.

    CETAG had been on strike since June 14, protesting the government’s failure to implement the arbitral awards and service conditions stipulated by the National Labour Commission.

    This strike had caused significant disruption, leaving students stranded and campuses deserted.

    In a recent media briefing, Maxwell Bunu, CETAG’s National Trustee, indicated that most of their concerns have been addressed. He noted that decisions regarding the end of the strike would be made after further consultations with CETAG’s leadership.

    “The issue of all-year-round work and then the de-freezing of the July salary and the payment of the August salary—I think all these concerns have been addressed. And as a National CETAG Trustee, I don’t think with my experience here, it will be prudent for CETAG to remain on strike.

    “So as we have indicated here, we would certainly go back and convey all the issues that have been discussed and approved of by the officials here, so that by the close of tomorrow, with consultation with the council, I think we will do the needful because we cannot continue to be on strike forever.”

    In response, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations Ignatius Baffour Awuah assured that measures are being taken to compensate for the lost academic time.

    He urged students who may have left due to the strike to return to school promptly.

    “Let me also take this opportunity to plead with our students, who perhaps may have gone home as a result of the strike action, to also hurry up and return to school so that academic work can resume.

    “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.”

  • FWSC meets CETAG today amid 2-month strike action

    FWSC meets CETAG today amid 2-month strike action

    The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) will meet with the leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) today, in a bid to resolve the ongoing strike by teachers across the country’s colleges.

    The meeting, which will take place at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations,  will address the concerns of CETAG members and potentially bring them back to the classrooms.

    The FWSC has invited key stakeholders including the President of CETAG, Prince Obeng-Himah, the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the President of the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), Dr Samuel A. Atintono, the Director of Tertiary at the Ministry of Education, Dr Yayra Dzakadzie and the Head of the Public Financial Management Unit (CPMU) at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Augustus Kwasi Adu.

    CETAG’s strike began on June 14, with teachers from 46 colleges of education laying down their tools to demand improved working conditions and remuneration packages. The action was prompted by delays in implementing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions.

    The Association’s demands include payment of one month’s salary for additional duties performed in 2022 and the application of agreed rates of allowances given to public universities to deserving CETAG members.

    It has been over 2 months and the government has not been able to resolve the concerns raised by the group.

    CETAG President Prince Obeng-Himah revealed that a leadership vote on the continuation or suspension of the strike will also take place on Monday.

    He explained that the decision followed a meeting with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on August 16, where discussions were held to address the teachers’ grievances.

    “Since there was no consensus today to suspend the strike, council members will have to meet with their constituents over the weekend so that we can vote on it on Monday,” Obeng-Himah stated. He added that each council member would base their vote on the assurances given by the Vice President’s office during the August 16 meeting at Jubilee House. “The outcome shall be communicated by the close of day on Monday,” he noted.

    In a related turn of events, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) is seeking financial clearance from the Ministry of Education (MoE) to hire 2,500 new teachers.

    This recruitment is intended to alleviate the heavy academic workload and ensure a timely start to academic sessions.

    Once financial clearance is granted, GTEC will quickly proceed with the recruitment to have the new staff in place as soon as possible.

    “The Commission is in serious talks with the Honourable Minister of Education for financial clearance to be granted to GTEC to recruit some two thousand five hundred (2,500) teaching staff to augment the current load for academic work to commence as quickly as possible while we work with CETAG to resolve their concerns.

    “GTEC will communicate to you the modalities with which this urgent staff recruitment will be expedited as soon as the clearance is provided,” the statement read.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Education Committee, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has criticized the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission’s (GTEC) handling of the Colleges of Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana’s (CETAG) ongoing strike.

    He argued that GTEC’s focus should be on resolving the strike instead of proposing the hiring of additional tutors.

     Dr. Apaak condemned the government for opting for this approach rather than engaging in direct negotiations with the teachers’ association.

  • FWSC meets CETAG on Monday after 2 months of strike action

    FWSC meets CETAG on Monday after 2 months of strike action

    The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) is set to meet with the leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) on Monday, August 19, in a bid to resolve the ongoing strike by teachers in the country’s colleges of education.

    The meeting, which will take place at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, aims to address the concerns of CETAG members and potentially bring them back to the classrooms.

    The FWSC has invited key stakeholders for the upcoming meeting. The invitation includes the President of CETAG, the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the President of the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), the Director of Tertiary at the Ministry of Education, and the Head of the Public Financial Management Unit (CPMU) at the Ministry of Finance.

    CETAG’s strike began on June 14, with teachers from 46 colleges of education laying down their tools to demand improved working conditions and remuneration packages. The action was prompted by delays in implementing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions.

    CETAG’s demands include payment of one month’s salary for additional duties performed in 2022 and the application of agreed rates of allowances given to public universities to deserving CETAG members.

    It has been over 2 months and the government has not been able to resolve the concerns raised by the group.

    CETAG President Prince Obeng-Himah revealed that a leadership vote on the continuation or suspension of the strike will also take place on Monday.

    He explained that the decision followed a meeting with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on August 16, where discussions were held to address the teachers’ grievances.

    “Since there was no consensus today to suspend the strike, council members will have to meet with their constituents over the weekend so that we can vote on it on Monday,” Obeng-Himah stated. He added that each council member would base their vote on the assurances given by the Vice President’s office during the August 16 meeting at Jubilee House. “The outcome shall be communicated by close of day on Monday,” he noted.

  • GTEC to employ 2,500 teachers to replace those on strike over poor conditions

    GTEC to employ 2,500 teachers to replace those on strike over poor conditions

    The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) is seeking financial clearance from the Ministry of Education (MoE) to hire 2,500 new teachers.

    This recruitment is intended to alleviate the heavy academic workload and ensure a timely start to academic sessions.

    This request follows a nationwide strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), which began on June 14 in response to the government’s failure to implement agreed arbitration awards and other service conditions.

    Once financial clearance is granted, GTEC will quickly proceed with the recruitment to have the new staff in place as soon as possible.

    “The Commission is in serious talks with the Honourable Minister of Education for financial clearance to be granted to GTEC to recruit some two thousand five hundred (2,500) teaching staff to augment the current load for academic work to commence as quickly as possible while we work with CETAG to resolve their concerns.

    “GTEC will communicate to you the modalities with which this urgent staff recruitment will be expedited as soon as the clearance is provided,” the statement read.

  • 46 colleges risk closure over 8-week CETAG strike

    46 colleges risk closure over 8-week CETAG strike

    A coalition of concerned teacher trainees in the Ashanti region is calling for the temporary closure of the 46 colleges of education across Ghana in response to the ongoing strike by their lecturers.

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) initiated the strike after the government failed to fulfill its commitment to implement outstanding compulsory arbitration awards.

    As a result, students are facing significant disruptions to their academic progress, which is taking a toll on their mental health.

    Convener of the group, Manuel Opoku Duah, expressed the students’ growing concerns: “We are in a state of limbo, not knowing whether to remain on campus or return home. Our academic journey has been halted, putting our future as qualified teachers in jeopardy. The financial strain is also affecting our mental well-being.”

    With no resolution in sight, the teacher trainees find themselves stranded, unsure of what to do next.

    “We are calling for the closure of the Colleges of Education and for students to be allowed to return home. It has been more than 21 days without any engagement with our teachers. Additionally, there should be consideration for implementing the IN-IN-OUT system, so that level 400 trainees can return to campus, as many of their tenancy agreements will expire in October. We cannot continue to live with this uncertainty,” Mr. Opoku Duah added.

    Classrooms in all 46 colleges of education have been empty since CETAG began their industrial action on June 14. The strike, now in its eighth week, has brought academic activities to a standstill, leaving students frustrated and uncertain about their future.

    The students are also troubled by the ongoing nonpayment of their six-month trainee allowances, which are essential for covering their living expenses.

  • GTEC rejects calls to close teacher trainee colleges amid CETAG strike

    GTEC rejects calls to close teacher trainee colleges amid CETAG strike

    The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has dismissed suggestions from some Ghanaians to shut down all Teacher Trainee Colleges in light of the ongoing strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).

    CETAG initiated a nationwide strike on June 14, citing the government’s failure to implement agreed-upon arbitration awards and other service conditions.

    The strike, now nearing two weeks, has disrupted academic activities, leaving many campuses empty of students.

    In an interview with Citi News, Professor Francis K. E. Nunoo, Deputy Director General of GTEC, emphasized that closing the colleges is not feasible due to the significant financial consequences it would entail for the institutions.

    “Closing the school has financial implications, as well as their staying in school, as you have said. But we were hoping that we have done quite a lot of work, and quite a lot of all their demands are virtually almost addressed.

    “So we were hoping that in the next few days, we will bring to a finality to the issues so that they can go back to school. Students are meanwhile doing their practical work so the practical work needs to be supervised. At least they are getting busy with their practical work.

    “We are hopeful that in the next few days, CETAG will see a reason to call off the strike. It is when all these do not yield fruit, and then we will consider it.”

  • Mass exodus of SDA college of Education students as CETAG strike prolong

    Mass exodus of SDA college of Education students as CETAG strike prolong

    Approximately 80% of students at the SDA College of Education in Koforidua Asokore have left campus due to the protracted strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).


    The industrial action, which began on June 14, is in response to the government’s refusal to implement CETAG’s arbitral award and conditions of service.

    The situation deteriorated further when the government decided to freeze the July salaries of CETAG members, prompting a complete withdrawal of their services.

    As a result, the SDA College of Education has seen a mass exodus of students.

    A visit to the campus revealed that only a few students, mostly first-year students, remain. Lecture halls were deserted, with some being utilized by Senior High School students for their studies. Male students were seen playing volleyball, expressing their indifference to the lecturers’ absence.

    Sakyi Sampson Junior, the SRC President of SDA College of Education, stated that 80% of the students have left, while others are stranded on campus.

    “This strike has lasted for over a month. When it first began, we thought it would last only a week, but unfortunately, it has extended to over six weeks,” he said.

    He added, “Even today, as we have a council meeting by CETAG, we don’t know what the outcome will be. My students are stranded. I can say that about 80% of students are home now, which is a problem for us.

    All activities have ceased—SRC, college activities, and so many things are not going on. We urge the government to come to the negotiation table with CETAG and sort everything out so we can return to campus.”

    Kyere Phinihas, former SRC Organizing Secretary, noted that many fourth-year students have been unable to complete their dissertations due to the lack of supervision from striking lecturers.

    “We haven’t had any interactions with our lecturers, and we don’t have any course outlines or manuals to depend on for learning.

    Additionally, level 400 students are working on their project work, and these lecturers are the same ones we need to engage with for guidance. Our project work has been halted.

    Some students are even at chapter one, and some have not yet discussed their project work with their supervisors. This strike is really affecting students, especially us level 400 students who are off-campus.”

    Meanwhile, female students have expressed frustration over the disruption caused by the strike and are urging the government to quickly address the situation.

    Despite the strike and the students’ inability to finish their project work, the college has scheduled its graduation ceremony for August 1, 2024. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is set to attend as the Guest of Honor.

  • You can have our August salaries, we will still strike – CETAG members to govt

    You can have our August salaries, we will still strike – CETAG members to govt

    Members and leaders of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) remain steadfast despite their employers threatening to freeze their salaries.

    In an interview with JoyNews, a member of CETAG’s national communications team, Fedilis Kamaayi, confirmed their determination to continue the strike, which has now lasted over six weeks, demanding improved conditions of service.

    Mr Kamaayi noted that CETAG members anticipated that salary freezes might be used as a tactic to end the strike.

    He emphasized that this threat has only strengthened their resolve.

    “When the directive was issued, it has even motivated and gingered most of our tutors and 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 said.

    Mr. Kamaayi mentioned that the members are mentally prepared for the challenges ahead.

    This comes after the Minister of Education instructed Principals and the Controller and Accountant General to withhold the July 2024 salaries of teaching staff from the 46 public colleges of education due to the ongoing strike.

    The strike, which started on June 14, has significantly disrupted academic activities, leading to many students leaving campus.

    When asked about the strike’s continuation, Mr. Kamaayi expressed optimism that the situation would be resolved soon.

    “We have students in final year who have one more semester for them to complete and we have also started selling admission forms for new level 100s to be admitted. So, if you look at all these things, it will not augur well for the educational system in the country so our employer will not go there.”

    Meanwhile, Professor Samuel Atintono, President of the Conference of Principals of the Colleges of Education, has stated that the salary freeze cannot be reversed.

    “It was GTEC that wrote the letter not to validate the July salaries so not until GTEC writes again, we cannot reverse,” he said.

  • CETAG’s national council will convene today to determine the future of the current strike

    CETAG’s national council will convene today to determine the future of the current strike

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) is set to convene with its national council on Thursday, July 25, to deliberate on the potential conclusion of its ongoing strike.

    This strike, which has been in effect for over a month, was launched due to the government’s failure to enforce the National Labour Commission’s Arbitral Award Orders designed to enhance teachers’ working conditions.

    Recent negotiations between CETAG and the government have resulted in notable agreements.

    These agreements are viewed as progress towards addressing the issues that prompted the strike.

    CETAG President, Prince Obeng Himah, stated that while advancements have been made, a final decision on the strike will be made after the national council meeting on Thursday.

    The results of this meeting will be pivotal in determining whether teachers will return to work or continue with the strike, contingent on the full implementation of the agreed terms.

    “We have had a series of discussions, we have had a significant progress, a lot of proposals have been put on the table. We’re going to touch base with our members.”

    “What I can say for now is that we have made a lot of significant progress based on the proposals that have been put on the table,” the President of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana stated.

  • Education Ministry and CETAG to hold talks over prolonged strike

    Education Ministry and CETAG to hold talks over prolonged strike

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) is scheduled to meet with the Ministry of Education to resolve the ongoing impasse over its industrial action.

    CETAG members have been on strike for the past six weeks, protesting the government’s failure to implement an arbitration award issued by the National Labour Commission last year.

    CETAG has stated that they will not resume work until their employer complies with the Commission’s arbitration award.

    In an interview with Starr News, the Ranking Member of the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu Kotoe, revealed that their planned meeting with CETAG has been postponed to allow the Ministry of Education to complete its negotiations with the concerned members.

    “The meeting has been called off because the Ministry of Education has also arranged a meeting with CETAG and other bodies. So we want them to meet with the Ministry and then the outcome of that meeting will determine whether we will continue or when we realize that a solution has been found to the impasse then we will not meet them.”

  • CETAG halts all services in reaction to govt’s decision to freeze July salary

    CETAG halts all services in reaction to govt’s decision to freeze July salary

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has halted all services in response to the government’s decision to freeze their July salaries.

    On July 22, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) instructed the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to withhold the salaries of all CETAG members on strike, excluding the Principals, for July 2024.

    In retaliation, CETAG declared on July 23 that it is suspending all services immediately. This includes halting attendance at meetings, participation in ceremonies, academic counseling, and student supervision in residence halls.

    The decision was made during an emergency National Council meeting.

    CETAG has also sought legal advice regarding the government’s salary freeze directive.

    GTEC has urged the striking CETAG members to resume their duties, assuring them that their concerns are being addressed.

    “I will plead with them that look we cannot continue to bastardise our institutions in this manner of continual perennial strikes because the more you go on strike the more you make your institutions unattractive,” the Acting Director General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai said.

  • Continuous strike by CETAG affecting Ghana’s tertiary education system – Prof Abdulai

    Continuous strike by CETAG affecting Ghana’s tertiary education system – Prof Abdulai

    The Acting Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, has raised alarm over the strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).

    He warned that the strike is having a negative impact on the country’s tertiary education system.

    Since June 14, CETAG members across all 46 Colleges of Education have been on strike, demanding the government address their arbitral award and conditions of service. This action has caused students to vacate their campuses.

    “This continual strike by CETAG does not augur well for the educational tertiary architecture that we hope for,” Prof Abdulai said in an interview on Channel One TV.

    The Acting Director General of GTEC urged CETAG to reconsider their strike action, stressing that it harms the reputation of the institutions involved.

    “I will plead with them that look we cannot continue to bastardise our institutions in this manner of continual perennial strikes because the more you go on strike the more you make your institutions unattractive,” he stated.

  • We will sue you if you try to freeze our salaries – CETAG to govt

    We will sue you if you try to freeze our salaries – CETAG to govt

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) leadership has pledged to fight any unlawful attempts to freeze their members’ salaries and will continue their indefinite strike until the government enforces the arbitral award and agrees to the negotiated service conditions.

    In a press briefing in Accra, CETAG President Prince Obeng-Himang stated that the strike will persist until all unresolved issues are resolved.

    “Any attempt to illegally freeze salaries would lead to legal action, as the strike is a legitimate response to the government’s delay in implementing the arbitral award and negotiated service conditions,” he cautioned.

    CETAG insists that its ongoing strike, which started in June, is legally justified and criticizes the National Labour Commission (NLC) for disseminating false information about their actions.

    The Association refutes claims that members have received their Book and Research Allowance arrears for the 2022/2023 academic year.

    Since the strike began, all academic activities at Colleges of Education nationwide have been disrupted, as members protest the government’s failure to implement the agreed-upon conditions.

    Additionally, CETAG has denied allegations that its members are administering quizzes and tests during the strike.

    They clarified that students who miss over 21 days of lectures or classes are ineligible for examinations based on affiliate universities’ attendance policies.

    “CETAG advises students, principals, and affiliate universities to respect this policy and warns of legal action against any violations,” Obeng-Himang stated.

  • CETAG vows to fight against illegal salary freezes amid ongoing strike

    CETAG vows to fight against illegal salary freezes amid ongoing strike

    TColleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) has vowed to continue its indefinite strike in response to any unlawful attempts to freeze members’ salaries. The association is demanding the immediate implementation of the arbitral award and negotiated service conditions.

    CETAG asserts that its strike is legally justified and accuses the National Labour Commission of spreading misinformation about their actions.

    The Association also disputes claims that its members have received arrears for the 2022/2023 Book and Research Allowance.

    Since CETAG initiated its strike in June, academic activities across Colleges of Education have been suspended. The strike is in protest of the government’s delay in implementing the agreed-upon arbitral award and service conditions.

    At a press conference in Kumasi, CETAG President Prince Obeng-Himang emphasized that the strike will persist until all issues are resolved.

    He warned that any attempt to unlawfully freeze salaries would lead to legal action, affirming that the strike is a legitimate measure against the government’s inaction.

    The Association also denied accusations that its members are conducting quizzes and tests during the strike.

    CETAG clarified that, according to the attendance policy of affiliated universities, students are not permitted to take exams if they miss more than 21 days of lectures or classes.

    The Association urged students, principals, and universities to adhere to this policy and warned of legal repercussions for any violations.

    “The first of such misinformation was put across by GTEC two weeks ago that the Government had paid CETAG members an amount of GH¢199 million as arrears for Book and Research Allowance for the 2022/2023 academic year.

    The fact is that as of today Monday 22nd July 2024, the Government has not paid any such money to members of CETAG.”

    “The second misinformation being peddled by some principals of colleges of education to students is that the affiliate universities shall conduct quizzes and examinations for the students whether the students are taught by the lecturers or not.

    This information is completely false because per the attendance policy of all the affiliate universities, a student cannot take an examination if he or she forfeits lectures/classes for more than twenty-one (21) days.”

    “CETAG is using this medium to advise students, principals and affiliate universities that any attempt to violate the class attendance policy shall be met with legal action by any stakeholder in the education space.”

    “We are by this press statement informing the public that CETAG’s strike action is legitimate since the Union followed all lay down processes before declaring the action.

    The Union wishes to notify the Employer that until it complies with all the outstanding arbitration awards by NLC, the Union shall never call off its ongoing strike action.”

    “Lastly, we want to caution that any attempt to illegally freeze salaries of our members who are on a legal a strike shall be met with a legal action against whoever takes such an action.

    CETAG will no longer tolerate injustice against its members because Ghana is a country governed by the rule of law.”

  • Students at College of Education abandon campus as CETAG strike intensifies

    Students at College of Education abandon campus as CETAG strike intensifies

    Students at Bimbilla College of Education are facing significant challenges as they are forced to leave campus due to the ongoing strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).

    The strike, which began on June 14, 2024, has left students stranded and uncertain about their academic future.

    The strike was triggered by the government’s delay in implementing an arbitral award and agreed-upon service conditions. Despite an order from the National Labour Commission to end the strike, CETAG has remained firm in its demands, leading to a complete shutdown of academic and administrative activities at the college.

    With no resolution in sight, many students are running low on funds and options. Final-year students are particularly worried that the strike will disrupt their academic calendar and affect their scheduled graduation in September. First-year students also fear that their education could be compromised by the ongoing strike.

    In an exclusive interview with Channel One News, students voiced their frustration and concern over the uncertainty of their academic progress. Some have resorted to private study sessions to prepare for upcoming end-of-semester exams, despite the lack of formal instruction.

    The next scheduled meeting to address the strike is set for August 6, 2024. Students are urging the government to address CETAG’s grievances promptly and facilitate a resolution, particularly given the significance of the current election year.

  • GTEC Director-General urges CETAG to end strike

    GTEC Director-General urges CETAG to end strike

    The Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, has called on the striking members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to resume their roles in the classrooms.

    Professor Ahmed Jinapor stated that the government, through the Finance Ministry, has settled all outstanding research and book allowances owed to CETAG members.

    During the investiture of Professor Prince Boateng, who has been promoted from Acting Principal to Principal of Ada College of Education, Professor Jinapor announced that the teachers can access their payments on the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System starting Monday, July 15, 2024.

    He also added that “GTEC is currently working with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to ensure that all staff is placed on the scheme.”

    “CETAG is on strike on the grounds that they want a top-up of their book and research allowance paid, and I am glad that the monies have finally been paid. A total of one hundred and ninety-nine million Ghana cedis plus have been paid,” he added.

    Background

    On Friday, June 14, the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) announced an indefinite strike.

    This action is a reaction to the government’s postponement in executing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and the agreed-upon service conditions.

    The strike impacts all 46 public colleges of education across the country.

    CETAG is demanding the payment of one month’s salary to each member for extra duties carried out in 2022, as well as the application of agreed-upon allowance rates for public universities to eligible CETAG members.

    CETAG’s leadership stated that the strike is meant to compel the government to honor its commitments.

    In a June 14, 2024, statement, CETAG underscored that the strike is designed to protect the economic rights of its members, as guaranteed by Article 24(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Section 10 (a) and (b) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

    The association highlighted the necessity of maintaining these legal and constitutional safeguards.

    CETAG has called on its members to cease teaching and related activities indefinitely until their concerns are addressed.

    “CETAG wishes to call on every member to immediately comply with this declaration by withdrawing teaching and related services indefinitely across all 46 public colleges of education until all the orders arising from the Compulsory Arbitration Awards and related concerns are fully implemented by way of payments to our members and implementations thereof. Thank you.”

  • GTEC orders CETAG to end strike action

    GTEC orders CETAG to end strike action

    The Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, has called on members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to resume teaching duties following the payment of all outstanding research and book allowances.

    Speaking at the investiture ceremony of Professor Prince Boateng as the new Principal of Ada College of Education, Professor Jinapor confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has released funds to settle the owed allowances.

    He assured CETAG members that they would be able to access their payments through the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System starting Monday, July 15, 2024.

    “GTEC is currently collaborating with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to ensure that all staff are appropriately placed on the salary scheme,” Professor Jinapor stated. He emphasized that the government has disbursed a total of over 199 million Ghana cedis to CETAG members, addressing their primary grievance.

    The call to return to the classroom follows CETAG’s indefinite strike declaration on June 14, 2024. The strike, which affects all 46 public colleges of education across Ghana, was initiated in response to the government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s Arbitral Award Orders and other negotiated service conditions.

    CETAG’s demands include the payment of one month’s salary for additional duties performed in 2022 and the application of agreed rates of allowances payable to public universities for CETAG members.

    The association has stressed that these payments are crucial for safeguarding the economic rights of its members, as protected under Article 24(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Section 10 (a) and (b) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

    In a statement issued on June 14, CETAG emphasized the importance of upholding these legal and constitutional protections, urging its members to withdraw from teaching and related services until their demands are met.

    “CETAG calls on every member to immediately comply with this declaration by withdrawing teaching and related services indefinitely across all 46 public colleges of education until all the orders arising from the Compulsory Arbitration Awards and related concerns are fully implemented by way of payments to our members and implementations thereof,” the statement read.

    With the payment of allowances now confirmed, it remains to be seen whether CETAG members will heed Professor Jinapor’s call and return to the classrooms, thus bringing an end to the disruption in the nation’s colleges of education.

  • NLC obtains interlocutory injunction to stop CETAG’s strike

    NLC obtains interlocutory injunction to stop CETAG’s strike

    National Labour Commission (NLC) has secured an interlocutory injunction to halt the ongoing strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).

    CETAG began their strike on Friday, June 14, 2024, in protest against the government’s delay in implementing the arbitral award and negotiated service conditions.

    Despite an NLC order to end the strike on June 20, CETAG continued their industrial action, prompting the commission to hold a hearing where it announced plans to sue the government to enforce its arbitral award orders in CETAG’s favor.

    The NLC’s injunction now prohibits CETAG from continuing the strike. Additionally, the NLC is requesting the court to restrain CETAG’s Executives, Officers, Members, Agents, Servants, Employees, and any other associated individuals from further participating in the strike action.

    “Counsel for and on behalf of the Applicant herein shall pray this Honourable Court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Respondent herein, whether by Itself, Its Executives, Officers, Members, Agents, Servants, Employees or other persons from further embarking on their strike action which they commenced from 14th June 2024.”

    The Commission is seeking an order to compel CETAG to comply with its directive, dated June 21, 2024, and call off the strike action.

    “AND FOR an order compelling the Respondent herein, whether by Itself, the Executives, Officers, Members, Agents, Servants, Employees or other persons to comply with the Directive of the National Labour Commission dated 2Is1 June, 2024 to call off the strike action upon grounds contained in the accompanying affidavit and for any further orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit.”

    The court will be moved on Thursday, July 18, for a hearing.

  • CETAG ignores NLC’s instruction to call off strike

    CETAG ignores NLC’s instruction to call off strike

    Despite a directive from the National Labour Commission (NLC) to return to the negotiation table, the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) persists with its strike action.

    The Commission issued this directive during a hearing on Thursday, announcing its intent to take legal action against the government to enforce the arbitral award orders in favour of CETAG.

    Since Friday, June 14, 2024, CETAG members have been on strike due to the government’s delay in implementing the agreed arbitral award and negotiated service conditions, including the payment of an additional month’s salary for duties performed in 2022.

    During the hearing, the NLC stressed the urgency of resolving the matter and informed CETAG of its plan to take the government to court on June 26 to ensure compliance with the arbitral award.

    The objective of this legal action is to enforce the Commission’s previous ruling and address the grievances of CETAG members.

    Labour Consultant Austin Garmey, speaking to the media after the NLC’s directive, acknowledged that CETAG’s concerns had been heard and urged them to consult with their advisors and make a decision in light of the NLC’s directive to call off the strike.

    “We cannot deny the fact that the Commission listened to the issues we raised, and we can say that they have directed the employer to go and fully implement this particular directive.”

    “Therefore, CETAG would have to go and meet with their constituents between today and tomorrow and finalise the decision to return to work. That is the way to go because we will be back to the Commission on the 27th.”

    “Because the employer is expected to begin fully implementing the award on or before the 26th of this month, and more so when they are in court as well. So, we strongly believe that we must see them respecting the orders as well, and we will go and meet our constituents and talk to them, and then we will put this matter behind us,” he said.

    Later in an interview with Joy News, CETGA President, Prince Obeng Himang, said, “To be very fair to the NLC’s comment, they said that it was a piece of advice and that we should take steps to call off the action because of the actions they have taken. And we are saying that this is not the first time we have heard that from the Commission. So, merely saying they have taken ABC and D actions, so we should call off the action we are unable to do that. We are going to meet our council so that we look at the advice, look at our interests and then we can make a determination from there. So, not until then, the strike is still in force.”

    He maintained that meeting their demands was the only thing that would compel them to call off the strike.

    “We are simply asking the Employer to fully implement the arbitral orders given by the NLC which the Commission even now sees that the employer has not been forthcoming and that they are even going to court to seek an injunction to compel the employer to comply with.”

  • CETAG members embark on indefinite strike action

    CETAG members embark on indefinite strike action

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has announced an indefinite strike, effective Friday, June 14, 2024, in response to the government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and the agreed-upon service conditions.

    The strike impacts all 46 public colleges of education across Ghana, as CETAG members seek to press the government to fulfill their demands.

    These include the payment of one month’s salary for additional duties performed in 2022 and the application of agreed rates of allowances payable to public university staff to CETAG members.

    In a statement released on Friday, June 14, 2024, CETAG emphasized that the strike aims to secure the economic rights of its members as stipulated under Article 24(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Section 10 (a) and (b) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

    “CETAG wishes to call on every member to immediately comply with this declaration by withdrawing teaching and related services indefinitely across all 46 public colleges of education until all the orders arising from the Compulsory Arbitration Awards and related concerns are fully addressed,” the statement read.

  • Resolve our bad service conditions by May 31 or else – CETAG tells gov’t

    Resolve our bad service conditions by May 31 or else – CETAG tells gov’t

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has set a deadline for the government to resolve their service conditions by May 31, 2024.

    The association expressed frustration over the government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions.

    These demands include compensating each member with one month’s salary for additional duties performed in 2022, among other issues.

    National President of CETAG, Dr. Prince Obeng-Himah, stated that failure to address their concerns by the specified date would lead the association to consider alternative actions.

    “We would like to send a very strong signal and a message to our employer in unambiguous terms that we shall take our destinies into our own hands if, by 31st May 2024, all the outstanding compulsory arbitration awards as listed below are not fully implemented.

    “We wish to call on the FWSC, GTEC, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relation, MoE, and the MoF to immediately comply with the NLC’s compulsory arbitration award orders in the supreme interest of industrial peace.

    “We also call on the President of the Republic of Ghana, his excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, the speaker of Parliament of Ghana, the Chief Justice, and the Chairman of the National Peace Council to prevail on the employer to uphold the rule of law by complying with the NLC’s compulsory arbitration award orders issued on 2nd May 2023 to prevent any industrial disturbance,” he stated.

  • “It shouldn’t be cancelled” – CETAG on Mahama’s remarks to abolish Licensure Exams for teacher trainees

    “It shouldn’t be cancelled” – CETAG on Mahama’s remarks to abolish Licensure Exams for teacher trainees

    The proposal by John Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to eliminate licensure exams for teacher trainees has faced staunch opposition from the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).

    Mahama had announced his intention to abolish these exams during his ‘Building Ghana Tour’ in the Bono Region, contending that subjecting teacher trainees to an additional assessment is unnecessary.

    In contrast to Mahama’s position, CETAG firmly asserts that licensure exams play a crucial role in ensuring the competence and quality of future teaching professionals.

    Prince Obeng Himah, the President of CETAG, emphasized the unique nature of teacher training in comparison to other professions, underscoring the profound impact educators can have on entire generations.

    In an interview with Citi News, Himah stated, “In my opinion, it is something that is good and it shouldn’t be cancelled.

    “That is CETAG; we have stated that we should implement what we agreed two years ago when we had a conference that the students wanting to enter the teaching profession should be subjected to entrance exams.”

  • CETAG calls off strike after NLC directive

    CETAG calls off strike after NLC directive

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has decided to halt their ongoing strike following the results of a voting process conducted on Sunday.

    This resolution stems from the majority’s plea to bring an end to the strike action. Out of the 46 colleges of Education, 32 voted in favor of suspending the strike, constituting a significant majority at 69.57%.

    On the other hand, the remaining 14 colleges of Education, making up 30.43% of the voting members, opted to continue the strike.

    In line with the majority’s choice, CETAG has officially declared the suspension of their strike, effective from Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

    This comes after the National Labour Commission (NLC) has directed the College of Education Teachers Association of Ghana to call off its strike and appear before the Commission for a hearing.

    The Association failed to appear before the NLC on Wednesday, August 02, 2023, for hearing on their industrial action.

    Nonetheless, CETAG has emphasized that they will closely oversee the Ministry of Education’s progress in implementing all the Arbitral Awards. Should the Ministry fail to fulfill these obligations by October 31, 2023, CETAG retains the right to reassess their position and take appropriate measures.

    In light of these developments, all CETAG members are expected to resume their duties no later than Thursday, September 7, 2023.

    This decision to suspend the strike brings relief to many, enabling the resumption of academic activities and the restoration of normalcy in the colleges of Education.

  • CETAG vows to remain at home until govt enforces NLC directive

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has asserted that it will not end its strike until the government fulfills the terms and conditions of service that were previously agreed upon.

    Commencing on August 1, CETAG launched the strike, attributing it to the government’s non-compliance with the NLC’s Arbitral Award Orders and the negotiated terms of service since May 2, 2023.

    The National Labour Commission (NLC) on Monday directed the government to immediately implement the agreed-upon terms of the conditions of service with the Association as the prolonged strike continues to disrupt the education sector.

    Government is yet to comment on the NLC’s directive and implementation roadmap.

    But the national president of the Association, Prince Obeng Himah in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM said the only thing that will get them to return to the lecture halls is assurance that they will be paid at the end of the month.

    “We expect the government to as soon as possible implement our condition of service and no evidence will be stronger than seeing a validation that will guarantee us that we are going to get paid at the end of the month and if we can see that we have been validated to be paid the all-year-round compensation that we asked for, if there is that assurance that our members are going to get the fifteen days leave, if there is that assurance, there are concrete steps being taken to show how the staff audit report is going to be implemented, then we will gladly go back to the lecture halls.”

    Mr. Himah further commended the NLC’s directive calling it a win for the rule of law.

    “I must say that what happened on Wednesday is a victory for the rule of law, and it seeks to validate our position that the National Labour Commission must always exist to protect the labour interest of both employers and employees and I commend them for the statement that they have made, and we are going to stay home and wait for government to come out with a complete thing, and then we move forward.”

  • NLC calls on govt to sanction CETAG for ongoing unlawful strike

    Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission, Ofosu Asamoah, has urged the government to take disciplinary action against individuals affiliated with the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) for participating in an illegal strike.

    Since August 1, members of CETAG from all 46 training colleges have been engaged in a strike, citing the government’s non-compliance with the National Labour Commission’s Arbitral Award and the negotiated terms of service established since May 2, 2023.

    Despite multiple notifications conveyed to the Ministry of Finance, the mutually agreed-upon negotiations have not been put into effect, resulting in an ongoing deadlock.

    In an interview on Eyewitness News, Mr Asamoah opined that CETAG members must be penalized for embarking on illegal strikes, and lambasted them for failing to rescind their decision when they were advised to do so.

    “The Commission has told you, don’t go, and you went, and it says stop what you are doing, and you say you won’t. Defying the orders of the Commission is an unlawful act. The Commission will have to resort to the court to compel them to go back to the classrooms if they still proceed on the strike. And then their employers will also have the right to punish them for proceeding with this illegal strike. Two wrongs do not make a right. The fact that the employer was in default doesn’t mean that you should also do that,” he told sit-in host of Eyewitness News, Selorm Adonoo.

    The Deputy Minister of Education in Charge of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Gifty Twum Ampofo, has made a passionate appeal to CETAG to reconsider their ongoing strike action and engage in meaningful negotiations with the government to resolve their concerns.

    CETAG and NLC are expected to engage on August 16.

  • Reductions in our salaries won’t stop us from striking – CETAG

    Reductions in our salaries won’t stop us from striking – CETAG

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has asserted that they will persist with their strike, even if it results in salary reductions.

    The President of the association, Prince Obeng Himah, anticipates possible salary cuts during the strike but remains undeterred.

    All 46 training colleges’ CETAG members have been striking since August 1. They point to the government’s failure to comply with the National Labour Commission (NLC)’s Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions since May 2, 2023, as the reason.

    Despite notifications to the Ministry of Finance, the agreed negotiations remain unimplemented, perpetuating the deadlock.

    Asked about the potential non-payment for strike duration, Himah replied, “No surprise. We’ve heard whispers of punitive actions. We’re aware of the consequences. How can we not be paid for absent attendance when it wasn’t part of our arrangement?”

    He calls for open dialogue between CETAG and NLC concerning owed salaries.

    “We’re discontented with this situation. We must fight for justice; otherwise, we won’t benefit. Documentation must result in payments. The economy is harsh, and people remain under expired 2021 service conditions. These issues demand attention.”

    Regarding arrears from January 2023 onwards, he urges transparent discussions for a resolution.

    Ofosu Asamoah, NLC’s Executive Secretary, urges the government to penalize CETAG for an unlawful strike.

    “Defying Commission orders is unlawful. Court intervention might be needed to compel them back to classrooms. Employers can also punish them for this illegal action. Two wrongs don’t justify.”

  • Conditions of Service: NLC to meet CETAG August 16

    Conditions of Service: NLC to meet CETAG August 16

    The National Labour Commission (NLC) has adjusted its meeting schedule with the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to Wednesday, August 16, 2023.

    This decision follows a request from CETAG to postpone the initially planned meeting, which was slated for today, August 9, 2023.

    CETAG cited the unavailability of its leaders as the reason for the request.

    CETAG’s ongoing strike, which commenced on August 1, has been prompted by the government’s failure to fulfill the agreed-upon terms of their service conditions.

    In response to CETAG’s postponement request, the NLC reached out to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the Ministry of Education, and other pertinent stakeholders to inform them of the date change.

    Under the authority vested in it by section 139 of the Labour Act, the Commission has directed CETAG to immediately suspend their strike action.

    CETAG’s strike had been initiated to demand the disbursement of outstanding allowances owed to its members.

  • CETAG directed to call off strike by NLC

    The National Labour Commission (NLC) has instructed the College of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to halt its strike and appear before the Commission for a scheduled hearing.

    This directive came about as the leadership of CETAG failed to attend the NLC hearing on Wednesday, August 02, 2023, regarding their ongoing industrial action.

    The NLC has further mandated CETAG to present themselves before the Commission on the upcoming Wednesday, August 09, 2023.

    Emphasizing the ongoing engagements, the Commission emphasized that CETAG should terminate its industrial action.

    According to the NLC, prior to the scheduled hearing, CETAG’s leadership communicated to the Commission that they had no issues with the NLC and therefore wouldn’t be appearing before it.

    Beginning August 1, 2023, the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana initiated an indefinite industrial strike due to the government’s failure to implement the “negotiated” conditions of service for their members.

    In 2021, CETAG and the Government, facilitated by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), engaged in prolonged negotiations over fresh terms of service for CETAG members.

    This compelled the National Labour Commission (NLC) to step in with Compulsory Arbitration following CETAG’s strike in January 2023.

    At the culmination of the Compulsory Arbitration, the NLC issued an Arbitral Award Order on May 2, 2023, granting CETAG members new conditions of service effective from January 1, 2023.

    The Association affirmed that after the NLC’s Compulsory Arbitral Award, the parties officially endorsed the negotiation agreement, which the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) conveyed to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on May 26, 2023, for approval and implementation.

    They asserted that despite their letters to the Ministry requesting immediate implementation of the negotiated terms, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) did not act on the FWSC’s letter along with the NLC’s Arbitral Orders.

    In response to the apparent inaction, the Association’s members chose to withdraw their services from all 46 Colleges of Education, effective Monday, July 31, 2023, if the government did not honor the mutually agreed-upon negotiations.

  • Ashanti Region: Students leave campus for home over teachers’ strike

    Ashanti Region: Students leave campus for home over teachers’ strike

    Students at several Colleges of Education in the Ashanti Region have begun leaving their campuses for home due to the ongoing strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).

    However, those who remain on campus are now stranded and worried about the potential adverse effects of the strike on their academic calendar and exams.

    Some of the students, who were supposed to write exams during this period, expressed concern that the strike could disrupt their academic progress if not resolved promptly.

    “I can say the strike is really affecting us. The level 3 students are left with about two weeks to write their exams. Even our seniors who are in levels 200 and 400 are waiting for us to vacate so that they can occupy the space for them to write their semester exams. But we are stranded here, just roaming and visiting town. We have been having our own discussions.”

    “Nothing is going on, even some of our books have not been given to us. We need the lecturers, so we are pleading with the government to come to our aid,” said one of the students, Paulina Oduro.

    They are calling on the government to address the concerns of their teachers to ensure a quick resolution.

    One student shared, “The strike is really affecting us. Level 3 students have just two weeks left to write their exams, and even our seniors in levels 200 and 400 are waiting for us to vacate so they can use the space for their semester exams. But we are stranded here, with nothing going on and some of our study materials not given to us. We need the lecturers, so we plead with the government to come to our aid.”

    Another student highlighted the impact on level 400 and 100 students, with many level 300 students already leaving for home. The strike has disrupted their studies, and they are resorting to having their own discussions in classrooms.

    The situation remains tense as students hope for a swift resolution to the strike to resume their studies and complete their exams without further delays.

  • Education Minister calls CETAG to negotiation table; calls for suspension of intended strike 

    Education Minister calls CETAG to negotiation table; calls for suspension of intended strike 

    Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum, has appealed to the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to reconsider its plan to resume their strike action, following government’s failure to implement the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and the negotiated conditions of service.

    The Minister has urged CETAG to pursue dialogue rather than strike, citing potential Academic Calendar disruption.

    In January 2023, CETAG embarked on an indefinite strike action after the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) protracted negotiations for new conditions of service for more than a year.

    The strike was however called off following interventions by the National Labour Commission.

    A compulsory arbitral order birthed a new condition of service for CETAG agreed by government.

    However, in a press release dated Monday, July 10, 2023, CETAG demonstrated that the agreed negotiations between the two parties have not been implemented despite several letters of notice to the Ministry of Finance.

    “Following the NLC’s compulsory Arbitral Award, the parties proceeded to sign off the negotiation agreement, which has been communicated to the Ministry of Finance by the FWSC since May 26, 2023, for approval and implementation.

    Surprisingly, the MoF has refused to act on FWSC’s letter together with the NLC’s Arbitral ORDERS in spite of letters to the MoF requesting immediate implementation of the negotiated agreements. Practically, CETAG members cannot continue to survive on expired 2020 CoS in this biting economy of Ghana,” the statement read.

    CETAG, therefore, said it will be forced to lay down tools by end of July if government fails to honour its part of the negotiation.

    Additionally, it will not continue with the all-year-round academic calendar for 2023/2024 year.

    However, the Minister of Education has appealed to CETAG in a speech read on his behalf by Mr. Yayara Dzakadzi, Director of Tertiary Education at the Ministry during the 13th congregation by SDA College of Education in Koforidua.

    “Mr. Chairman I wish to use this platform to appeal to the colleges of education teachers association of Ghana to engage the ministry further on the implementation of the negotiated allowances for its members rather on going on strike which will end up disrupting the academic calendar,” he pleaded.

    Book and Research Allowance

    The Education Minister announced Government has processed an amount of over 32 million Ghana Cedis for the first batch of book and research allowance payable to eligible Senior Members of Public Tertiary Institutions across the country.

    He further stated that the government is indeed leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the smooth operations of the Colleges of Education in the Country to prepare them for brighter future.

    In light of this, government has released an amount of 241,913,000 Ghana Cedis for the payment of trainees allowance in the Country.

    The Minister also said some Colleges of Education have qualified to be converted into full-fledged universities in the coming months.

  • CETAG ordered to stop intended strike

    CETAG ordered to stop intended strike

    The National Labour Commission (NLC) has instructed the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to refrain from its planned strike.

    The NLC stated in a letter dated July 11, 2023 and written to CETAG that the subject has already been determined and that failure to implement will result in Commission enforcement.

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) has given notice that they would be leaving the 46 public colleges of education on Tuesday, August 1st, 2023.

    The government has until July 31, 2023 to implement the stipulated allowances, according to the Association.

    “Together with the one-off payment of one month’s basic salary based on CETAG’s salary grade as compensation for additional duty performed in 2022 payable to tutors per the NLC’s Arbitral Award ORDER given on 2nd May 2023,” the National President of CETAG, Mr. Prince Obeng-Himan stated in a press release dated July 10, 2023.

    He added that their decision was forced by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission’s (FWSC) “deliberately prolonged” negotiation of their working conditions.

  • CETAG announces nationwide strike from August 1

    CETAG announces nationwide strike from August 1

    The leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) has announced their intention to withdraw services from all 46 public colleges of education starting from Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

    CETAG has given the government a deadline of July 31, 2023, to implement the negotiated allowances.

    “Together with the one-off payment of one month’s basic salary based on CETAG’s salary grade as compensation for additional duty performed in 2022 payable to tutors per the NLC’s Arbitral Award ORDER given on 2nd May 2023,” the National President of CETAG, Mr. Prince Obeng-Himan stated in a press release dated July 10, 2023.

    The decision of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) to withdraw services was driven by what they perceive as intentionally prolonged negotiations by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) regarding their condition of service.

  • CETAG resumes strike today after no agreement on demands

    CETAG resumes strike today after no agreement on demands

    The College of Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana (CETAG) is set to resume its strike action today, January 6, 2023.

    The resumption of the strike is due to the stakeholders’ lackadaisical attitude towards meeting their over two-year demands, the Association revealed in a release dated January 5, 2023.

    “Following a meeting held between the Government Team and CETAG on January 4, 2023, over the outstanding issues of CETAG, the National Council of CETAG met to evaluate what transpired and concluded that the strike action, which was suspended on December 17, 2022, shall resume on Friday, January 6, 2023, if the two-day grace period given to the Minister expires without a resolution of the outstanding issues,” a part of the statement read.

    CETAG has embarked on several strike actions on a number of occasions over the “non-finalization of Conditions of Service (CoS) negotiations,” the unilateral determination of April 2023 by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) as the effective date for placing First Degree Holders of CENTSAG on 17H on the SSSS, and the undue delay by the Ministry of Education in responding to their request for payment of compensation, among others.

    The very recent strike action was announced on November 14, 2022, following delays by the government.

    CETAG expressed their displeasure over the Education Minister’s undue delay in meeting the two-week ultimatum to address their grievances, adding that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) did not seek a financial mandate from the Finance Ministry for the three outstanding generic allowances.

    Further, it rejected the effective date for the conditions of service negotiated in August 2021, which were to take effect in January 2023.

    “The effective date of January 2023 that the government team wants to unilaterally impose on CETAG instead of the mutually agreed effective date of January 2022 is totally unacceptable,” they added.

    CETAG no longer trusts the assurances given to it by stakeholders since all previous assurances saw no fruition.

    The recent release also stated that “Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) failed to disclose to CETAG the amount it is proposing to be paid for all-year-round work compensation and the date on which it will pay it.”

    It will be recalled that on December 17, 2022, CETAG called off its five-week industrial action over their conditions of service after 19 out of the 35 colleges voted in support to call off their strike in exchange for an assurance from the Education Minister that their concerns would be addressed within two weeks of suspension.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • CETAG calls of strike, set to resume on Jan. 6

    CETAG calls of strike, set to resume on Jan. 6

    College of Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana (CETAG) has announced that it will resume its strike on January 6, 2023.

    In a release dated January 5, 2023, CETAG explained that the resumption of the strike is imminent as the stakeholders have not attached the needed seriousness to their concerns regarding the conditions of service for over two years now.

    “Following a meeting held between the Government Team and CETAG on January 4, 2023, over the outstanding issues of CETAG, the National Council of CETAG met to evaluate what transpired and concluded that the strike action, which was suspended on December 17, 2022, shall resume on Friday, January 6, 2023, if the two-day grace period given to the Minister expires without a resolution of the outstanding issues,” portions of the statement read.

    According to them, “all the outstanding issues contained in the communiqué signed on December 16, 2022, which the Minister promised to resolve within two weeks after the suspension of the strike, remain unresolved to date.”

    CETAG also stated that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) never took any steps to seek a financial mandate from the Finance Ministry for the three outstanding generic allowances, as promised.

    It further rejected the January 2023 effective date for CETAG’s 2021 Conditions of Service, which the parties settled on at the beginning of the negotiations in August 2021.

    “The effective date of January 2023 that government team wants to unilaterally impose on CETAG instead of the mutually agreed effective date of January 2022 is totally unacceptable,” they added.

     According to CETAG, they can no longer trust the assurances given by the stakeholders to seek a further financial mandate for the three outstanding generic allowances since all previous assurances were never fulfilled.

    They added that “GTEC has failed to disclose to CETAG the amount it has proposed to be paid as all-year-round work compensation as well as the time the payment shall be made.”

    It will be recalled that on December 17, 2022, CETAG called off its five-week industrial action over their conditions of service.

    This follows a majority vote by the Association’s local branches to call off their strike in exchange for an assurance from the Education Minister that their concerns would be addressed within two weeks of suspension.

    Out of the 35 colleges that voted online, 19 of them, forming the majority, agreed to suspend the strike but would resume if their outstanding issues were not resolved as promised.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • CETAG suspends its strike action

    The five-week strike by the Ghanaian College of Education Teachers’ Association has been immediately suspended.

    Following a majority decision by the association’s local chapters to end their strike, the Education Minister promised to address their issues within two weeks of the strike’s suspension.

    Nineteen of the 35 universities that cast online ballots decided to call off the strike, but would resume if their unresolved issues are not addressed as promised. This represents the majority of the 35 colleges.

    CETAG suspends strike of over one-month

    The remaining 16 cast ballots to prolong the strike until their welfare demands were satisfied.

    However, eleven of the teacher preparation programs chose not to cast a ballot.

    On Monday, December 19, 2022, instructors at the 46 colleges of education around the country are anticipated to report for duty.

    The national president of the group, Prince Himah, promised members in a letter that the leadership was determined to negotiate better working conditions.

    “Leadership promise to go to all length so that CETAG will get the best out of the engagement that is going to ensue as we suspend our destiny strike today, hoping the Minister and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission shall take the necessary steps as promised to bring finality to bear on all the unresolved issues of CETAG,” portions of the statement read.

    CETAG suspends strike of over one-month

  • CETAG in a dilemma over last minute meeting with gov’t despite NLC invitation

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) suspects that government has taken an entrenched position on its industrial action.

    National President of CETAG, Prince Obeng Hemang tells Citi News, the Association was waiting to hold engagements with the National Labour Commission (NLC), today, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, only to receive a late invitation on Monday to rather engage with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.

    This according to the National President has put CETAG in a dilemma and a potentially contemptuous situation.

    He told Citi News, they are yet to decide whether or not to attend the meeting with the Ministry.

    “The technicality of we appearing before the Minister when we have been summoned before the NLC -as to whether we wouldn’t be in contempt for seeking to do that arbitration without the express permission of the Commission is something we are seeking advice from our counsel to see whether we are even supposed to proceed with going for that meeting.”

    The teaching and non-teaching staff of Colleges of Education are on an industrial strike over the Government’s failure to implement their agreed 2022 conditions of service, as enumerated below:

    1. Failure of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to make available to CETAG and CENTSAG a draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which clearly captures what the parties mutually agreed on at the end of our negotiations for us to study before proceeding to sign off.

    2. Unilateral variation of the effective date of CETAG’s 2021 Conditions of Service (CoS) by FWSC from 1st January 2022 to 1st January 2023 contrary to the Rules of Engagement for the negotiations.

    3. Unilateral determination of April 2023 by the FWSC as effective date for placing First Degree Holders of CENTSAG on 17H on the SSSS, contrary to the Rules of Engagement for the negotiations.

    4. Undue delay of the Ministry of Education to give approval for the payment of compensation for the all-year-round work to staff of the colleges of education.

    5. Unfair retrospective deduction of office holding allowances paid to some members of CENTSAG and CETAG by the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD).

    6. Deliberate variation of Fuel, Vehicle Maintenance and Off-Campus allowances of CETAG and CENTSAG members as compared to our counterparts in other analogous institutions in the face of rising cost of fuel prices in the country.

     

  • Government has cheated us for far too long – CETAG President

    President of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), Prince Obeng-Himah, says government has cheated members of his union for far too long.

    The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG) have threatened to embark on a strike action starting Friday November 11, should government fail to prioritise their welfare.

    Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, the President of CETAG explained that the government has largely ignored the members of the staff associations working in the 46 colleges of education across the country for far too long.

    Explaining the situation he said; “The members who are working in the colleges are one of the few people who have been cheated, slighted for far too long. The genesis has been the fact that when we even had our negotiation in 2017, it took us up to 2021 before we threatened, we went on strike before government decided to give us some kind of compensation for failure to pay what we negotiated for in 2017.

    “It means that we had remained without any form of condition of service from that time up till 2021. Now eventually when that compensation was given us, the MOU or the agreement we had was that we were going to quickly negotiate for 2022 conditions of service and we started in August 2021.

    “The anticipation was that we would have finished by December 2021 so that it will take effect in 2022 January. Indeed we can say that we are still around the negotiation table from that time up to this time, talk about the resources we’ve pumped into it, and we still haven’t been able to finish.”

    The Union in an earlier press statement to announce their ultimatum to government expressed their disappointment at “the way Government has handled issues affecting the welfare of our members in the colleges of education over the years.”

    Some of the issues include non-finalisation of Conditions of Service (CoS) negotiations, unilateral determination of April 2023 by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) as effective date for placing First Degree Holders of CENTSAG on 17H on the SSSS, undue delay by the Ministry of Education in responding to our request for payment of compensation among others.

    CETAG and CENTSAG insist that “by Friday, 11th November, 2022 if our demands have not been met, we shall reactivate our indefinite strike actions which we suspended on January 24 and April 14, 2022 respectively.”

     

  • Colleges of Education staff threaten strike over conditions of service

    The leaders of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG) have expressed their displeasure over the government’s neglect of the welfare of their members in the 46 Colleges of Education over the years.

    The associations in a joint statement accused the Government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) of unfair treatment over the years.

    CETAG in January 2022 called off its weeks of strike action after the Government assured the association of taking stringent measures to resolve the non-implementation of its 2017-2020 conditions of service, but those resolutions are yet to be implemented 10 months on.

    Leadership of the two associations in their statement have therefore given the Ghana Education Service (GES) five crucial working days to address the following outstanding concerns;

    i) Non-finalisation of CETAG’s Conditions of Service (CoS) negotiations which started on 14th August 2021 and have direct implications for CENTSAG’s own CoS.

    ii)Unilateral determination of April 2023 by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) as the effective date for placing First Degree Holders of CENTSAG on 17H on the SSSS.

    iii) Undue delay by the Ministry of Education in responding to our request for payment of compensation for all-year-round work to both teaching and non-teaching staff.

    iv) Deliberate variation of Fuel, Vehicle Maintenance, and Off-Campus allowances of CETAG and CENTSAG members as compared to our counterparts in other analogous institutions in the face of the rising cost of fuel prices in the country.

    v) Unfair retrospective deductions of office holding allowances paid to some members of CENTSAG and CETAG.

    The unions added that if these concerns are not resolved by November 11, 2022, “we shall reactivate our indefinite strike actions which we suspended on January 24 and April 14, 2022, respectively.”

     

  • CETAG members resume work after suspension of leave

    Members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) have resumed work following a directive by their leadership to end the mass annual leave they embarked on.

    CETAG earlier directed all members to go on a 28-day mandatory leave starting September 1, 2022, as the Association demands full conditions of service and other compensatory packages from the government.

    On September 1, all teachers in the 46 public Colleges of Education who are members of CETAG proceeded on leave to return on October 10, 2022.

    The Principals of Colleges of Education, Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission expressed concern over their absence as it would endanger teacher trainees in the country.

    However, fifteen days after members proceeded on leave, leadership of the Association in a press statement signed by National President, Prince Obeng Himah, asked for all members to return to post.

    “The Leadership of the Association has broadly consulted with our legal team, considered the formal appeal by the leadership of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) and that of the general public, seen PRINCOF’s resolve to take steps to compensate tutors for engaging in the all-year-round academic work and the goodwill CETAG has enjoyed from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC),” part of the statement dated September 15, read.

    Speaking to the media, the National President of CETAG, Prince Obeng-Himah said Conference of Principals of College of Education (PRINCOF) has assured to compensate its members for forgoing the remaining days of their leave.

    “Our members are particularly happy because they have had 10 days rest and also there was that hope in sight when PRINCOF had indicated that what we were asking for was deserving of us, and they were prepared to meet us in the coming days. I have just received a notification from PRINCOF. We are prepared to meet leadership on Thursday to bring an end to this for the modalities and how they will work. It’s heartwarming and our members are happy to be back at work”, he said.

    CETAG explained that the decision to abruptly end its leave is meant to “salvage the academic calendar from imminent distortion.”

    Members were urged to travel back to their respective campuses within the weekend to be able to resume academic work on Monday.

    On his part, President of the Teacher Trainees Association, Jonathan Dzunu, has welcomed the new decision by CETAG and has further entreated Principals of Colleges of Education to resolve the issues with CETAG and avoid a more pronounced action in the future.

    “We are happy that they have finally given a second thought to their decision after we appeal to them formally. We thank CETAG very much for calling off the leave and then coming back to the classroom,” he said.