Nana Yaa Jantuah, former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has called on the Ghanaian government to swiftly address the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) grievances to minimize disruption to students’ education.
Speaking on TV3’s Big Issue on Thursday, July 25, Nana Yaa Jantuah emphasized the urgency of resolving CETAG’s prolonged strike, which has adversely affected teaching services at 46 public colleges of education.
“The government must take teachers’ issues seriously and fulfil its agreement to pay them promptly,” Nana Yaa Jantuah urged.
She added, “It is crucial that what is owed to these teachers is promptly disbursed. It reflects poorly on any government to respond only after a strike has commenced.”
Meanwhile, Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum reported substantial progress in addressing CETAG’s concerns following engagements with stakeholders in Accra on Wednesday, July 24.
“We have made significant strides in addressing the issues that led to CETAG’s strike,” Dr. Adutwum told journalists.
CETAG’s strike commenced on June 14, 2024, in protest over the government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s arbitration awards and negotiated service conditions.
In response to the strike, the government directed the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to withhold the July 2024 salaries of CETAG members, citing the illegality of the industrial action.
CETAG, however, labelled the government’s directive as illegal and announced plans to challenge it legally.
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) supported the government’s stance, instructing the freezing of salaries for teaching staff, except for college principals, until the strike is called off.
Despite these developments, CETAG reiterated its call for members to continue withholding teaching and related services until their demands are fully met.
The ongoing dispute underscores the challenges in the education sector and highlights the pressing need for a timely resolution to mitigate further disruption in academic activities across the affected institutions.
