The President of the Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), Prof Samuel Atintono, has expressed his dismay over the prolonged strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana, (CETAG).

In an interview on JoyNews’ 'The Pulse' on Thursday, July 25, Prof Atintono stated that he did not anticipate the strike would extend for such a lengthy period.

“We least anticipated that CETAG’s strike would drag us to where we are now. About 4, 5, 6 weeks now. But, unfortunately, there were certain issues and luckily we are almost getting them resolved,” he said.

Read also: CETAG holds emergency meeting as prolonged strike enters sixth week

Prof Atintono highlighted PRINCOF's concern for CETAG members' welfare and their active engagement with the government at the negotiation table to resolve the impasse.

He acknowledged the critical role that CETAG plays in the education sector and emphasized the urgent need for a resolution to prevent further disruptions to the academic calendar.

He described the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting between CETAG's leadership and government as refreshing and urged CETAG members to reconsider their decision to continue the strike.

Prof Atintono expressed optimism about a positive result from the CETAG's Council meeting on Friday and stressed the importance of addressing the welfare of students, particularly regarding how to make up for missed instructional hours to ensure they do not miss out.

On June 14, teachers in various colleges of education across Ghana initiated a strike, demanding improved working conditions and remuneration packages. This action was in response to the government's delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions.

CETAG's demands include payment of one month’s salary to each member for additional duties performed in 2022 and application of agreed rates of allowances payable to public universities to deserving CETAG members.

Read also: We are ready to forfeit our August salaries – striking CETAG members

Despite an NLC directive on June 20 to end the strike, CETAG continued its action, resulting in a hearing where the Commission announced plans to sue the government to enforce the arbitral award in CETAG's favour.

On July 22, CETAG leadership declared their intention to resist any illegal attempts to freeze members' salaries, following a directive by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to the Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD) to withhold CETAG members' July salaries.

CETAG has vowed to intensify its indefinite strike until the arbitral award and negotiated service conditions are fully implemented.