The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) says it will not call off its industrial action although government has promised to pay arrears owed its members by the end of January 2022.

The Association’s President, Prince Obeng-Heman, on Accra-based Citi FM, explained that the decision to call off the strike can be taken only by the Council.

Last Thursday, members of CETAG laid down their tools in all 46 public Colleges of Education over claims that the government had failed to implement the 2017-2020 conditions of service, as agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between CETAG and Government.

Soon after, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission had a crunch meeting to discuss the service conditions of members of the association.

Revealing the outcome of the meeting, Mr Obeng-Heman said the Controller and Accountant General’s Department has expressed optimism that it can process their payments for payment this month.

 “Government came out with a promise that even though they couldn’t pay in December, they were ready [to make payments]. Controller and Accountant General’s Department said they were in the capacity to make the necessary input to get [us] validated for the January salary.

“The determination to either go on with the strike or suspend depends on what council will make of the meeting with the government when we brief them within 48 hours,” he said.

The last time CETAG embarked on a strike was in December 2018.

This was after it accused the government of breaching the terms of an agreement with them on the payment of interim premiums and book and research allowances.

Their strike forced the Ministry of Education to order the closure of all the 46 Colleges of Education in the country.

CETAG subsequently called off the strike after its leadership agreed to resume negotiations with the National Labour Commission and Labour Ministry.