The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has announced its withdrawal from negotiations with the government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, facilitated by the National Labour Commission (NLC).

This decision follows the government's reported failure to appear in court on a scheduled date, 14 days into a strike by CETAG.

The Association stated that the employer’s absence in court is a deliberate disregard for their grievances after several postponed meetings, prompting their abandonment of conciliatory measures.

 The President of CETAG, Prince Obeng-Himah, expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to appear before court.

“What happened yesterday was unfortunate in the history of Ghana. When the NLC went to court, filed a case, had duly notified the employer, but the employer failed to show up in court on Wednesday. That was what happened.”

“What it implies is that the employer did not go to court, let alone send any documentary proof of having complied with the court. So the NLC yesterday, had practically nothing to give to us,” he said.

The Association has therefore withdrawn from meeting with stakeholders, describing their absence as a deliberate attempt to disregard their concerns.

“It is a deliberate attempt to delay and I think we don’t have to countenance it. They must also recognise that we are where we are because, we spent over a year attempting to negotiate with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.

"We attended 28 solid meetings. We weren’t making any headway. We had to trigger compulsory arbitration so that the right to negotiate will be taken from the Fair Wages and then the NLC set up neutral arbitrators.”

“So I am not sure there is any form of negotiation. Now if they are saying they won’t engage us, having exhibited this goodwill, having gone through all the process, having waited for over a year. Having watched the government defy the orders of the NLC for over a year, having watched the government fail to appear before a court of competent jurisdiction yesterday, what morality has anybody to tell CETAG they are being unlawful or recalcitrant?”