The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has announced that it has taken steps to resolve some concerns of the Colleges of Education Teachers' Association of Ghana (CETAG) to ultimately end their 2-month-old strike.

GTEC said it has paid top-up of the research allowance for 44 of the 46 Colleges of Education, except for McCoy and Dambai, which have some technical issues to be resolved.

“Also, the Commission said it has migrated 20 institutions and hopes to complete all 46 before the end of the month."

“Again, as you are aware, the Commission has migrated 20 institutions as of today and hopes to complete all 46 before the end of the month. In addition, the top-up of the research allowance has been paid to 44 Colleges of Education except McCoy and Dambai, who have some technical issues to be resolved,” GTEC said.

This was contained in a press release signed by the Acting Director General of GTEC, Prof Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai on Friday, August 16.

• Read also: Until you provide concrete evidence, we can’t trust you – CETAG tells gov’t

Also, GTEC said it will soon communicate a decision on August salaries for CETAG members once the Education Minister, Dr Osei Adutwum, gives directives.

Meanwhile, the Commission said it was currently in talks with “the Honourable Minister of Education for financial clearance to be granted to GTEC to recruit some two thousand five hundred (2500) teaching staff to augment the current load for academic work to commence as quickly as possible while we work with CETAG to resolve their concerns."

Regarding the call to close down the schools, the Commission said it has not received any directives, and as such, the schools should remain open.

On Wednesday, CETAG said it will not end its strike until the government shows  concrete evidence of implementing payments to its members.

In a statement, the association recounted that over the years, each time the government promised to fulfill its end of the bargain, it consistently failed.

As such, learning from previous experiences, CETAG has decided to see proof of the government’s commitment before returning to work.

Background

On June 14, teachers in various colleges of  education laid down their tools, demanding better working conditions and remuneration packages.

Read also: CETAG declares indefinite strike; 46 public colleges to suffer

This action was a response to the government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions.

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

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