The leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) says it will resist any illegal attempts to freeze members’ salaries. Leadership has also vowed to intensify its indefinite strike until the arbitral award and negotiated service conditions are implemented. 

CETAG insists its strike is legal and has accused the National Labour Commission of misinforming the public about its actions.

Speaking at a news conference in Kumasi on Monday, July 22, CETAG President Prince Obeng-Himang stated that members will remain on strike until all outstanding concerns are addressed.

• Read also: GTEC directs CAGD to withhold CETAG members’ July salaries

He cautioned that any attempt to illegally freeze salaries would lead to legal action, as the strike is a legitimate response to the government’s delay in implementing the arbitral award and negotiated service conditions.

The Association refuted allegations that its members are conducting quizzes and tests for students during the strike. 

CETAG clarified that students cannot take examinations if they forfeit lectures/classes for more than 21 days, as per the attendance policy of affiliate universities.

“The first of such misinformation was put across by GTEC two weeks ago that the Government had paid CETAG members an amount of GH¢199 million as arrears for Book and Research Allowance for the 2022/2023 academic year. The fact is that as of Monday 22nd July 2024, the Government has not paid any such money to members of CETAG.”

“The second misinformation being peddled by some principals of colleges of education to students is that the affiliate universities shall conduct quizzes and examinations for the students whether the students are taught by the lecturers or not. This information is completely false because per the attendance policy of all the affiliate universities, a student cannot take an examination if he or she forfeits lectures/classes for more than twenty-one (21) days.”

Meanwhile, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has written to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) requesting the withholding of July remuneration for CETAG members.

A press release issued on July 22 noted that this action will impact the teaching staff of all the Colleges of Education.

“At the instance of the Minister of Education on the non-adherence of CETAG members to call off an illegal strike from June 2024, you are by this letter requested to stop the salaries of all teaching staff of the Colleges of Education except for the College Principals for July 2024,” the statement read.