Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has threatened continued strike actions if government fails to implement a National Labour Commission ruling in their favour.
CETAG, which has been in a long struggle for better conditions of service at a press briefing in Ho on August 15, stressed they will not back down until their demands are fully met.
The spokesperson of the teachers said they are demanding immediate action from government to ensure better conditions of service for them.
CETAG in a press statement noted that the battle for fair treatment dates back to 2021, when they first went on strike over unresolved issues related to their conditions of service.
In spite of the numerous negotiations and meetings, they have still not arrived at a consensus agreement with government, the statement stressed.
According to these irate teachers, they have had enough of empty promises and are now insisting on full implementation of the rulings made by the National Labour Commission (NLC) when they were dragged there by government.
The spokesperson for CETAG, Dominic Owusu disclosed that in 2022, after stalled negotiations, CETAG was taken to the NLC by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (NLC) and ruling delivered was in favour of CETAG, directing government to compensate them.
Mr. Owusu said CETAG’s frustrations also extended to the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, who they accuse of being indifferent to their plight.
The teachers claimed that the Minister made promises on two separate occasions, which led them to suspend their strikes out of respect for his position yet, nothing has been done since. The Association is also critical of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) they alleged has not been proactive in their struggle for justice.
In response to these challenges, CETAG is making a series of firm demands. They want the full implementation of the staff audit report, payment of 20 months of arrears, and proper recognition of academic ranks. CETAG has made it clear that they will not accept anything less.
CETAG’s stance is resolute: this time, they want action, not words. The association has stated that they will not call off their current strike until there is tangible proof that their demands are being met.
Report by Robert Abilba
