The leadership of Ghana’s Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) is scheduled to convene with the National Labour Commission (NLC) today to address the ongoing impasse between the association and the Ministry of Education.
The Controller and Accountant General’s Department, acting on the directive of Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, has chosen to withhold the salaries of CETAG members.
Since August 1, CETAG has engaged in a strike, prompted by the government’s failure to execute the terms outlined in their service agreements.
In response, the NLC instructed the government to uphold the agreed-upon conditions; however, these instructions remain unfulfilled.
As a result, CETAG has made the determination to prolong the strike until the government takes concrete action.
The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana asserts its unwavering stance on the strike until the government implements the terms set forth in their conditions of service.
The strike, initiated on August 1 by CETAG, is grounded in the government’s non-compliance with both the National Labour Commission’s Arbitral Award Orders and the negotiated conditions of service dating back to May 2, 2023.
Citing disruption in the education sector due to the extended strike, the National Labour Commission (NLC) issued a directive to the government on August 14, urging the immediate implementation of the agreed-upon conditions of service.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on August 16, Prince Obeng Himah, the National President of CETAG, emphasized that the only factor that would prompt their return to the classrooms is the assurance of timely payment.
He stated, “Our expectation is for the government to expeditiously implement our conditions of service. This implementation can be strongly substantiated by a validation process that guarantees our monthly compensation. If there’s evidence that our year-round compensation demands have been validated, if there’s assurance of the fifteen days of leave for our members, and if clear steps are taken to demonstrate the execution of the staff audit report, then we would willingly resume our teaching duties.”
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
