CETAG declares indefinite strike on January 2 over unresolved grievances

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has declared an indefinite strike effective Thursday, January 2, 2025.

The announcement follows an Emergency National Council meeting held on December 30, 2024, where members resolved to take industrial action in response to unresolved issues with the government and other stakeholders.

According to a statement released by CETAG on December 31, 2024, the decision to strike follows repeated failures by the National Labour Commission (NLC) and other stakeholders to address critical concerns despite multiple notifications.

The key concerns outlined by CETAG include the government’s non-compliance with the National Labour Commission’s arbitration awards, the delayed migration of teaching staff onto affiliate universities’ pay structures, unpaid compensation for all-year-round work done in 2022, prolonged delays in issuing appointment letters based on staff audit reports, unpaid book and research allowances for staff at Akrokerri College of Education, and the lack of enforcement by the NLC to compel compliance with its directives.

"The employer’s continuous violation of signed agreements and roadmaps on the outstanding compulsory arbitration award issued by the NLC on May 2, 2023, has left us with no choice," it noted.

The strike, according to CETAG, aligns with section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), emphasising that the action has become imperative due to the government’s persistent violation of signed agreements and roadmaps regarding the compulsory arbitration award issued by the NLC on May 2, 2023.

"Conclusively, 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, and supervision of project work and macro-teaching, until the last pesewa is paid into our accounts," it stated.

The strike is expected to significantly disrupt academic activities across Ghana’s colleges of education, including teaching and supervision of project work.

Stakeholders in the education sector, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, and the NLC, are being urged to act swiftly to prevent further disruptions.

Read the full statement below:

JKB/MA

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