Call off strike; timing is wrong, GTEC tells CETAG

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has instructed the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to call off its strike in order to facilitate further dialogue.

This directive came after a closed-door meeting between GTEC and CETAG, following CETAG’s decision to strike on Thursday, January 2, 2025, over unresolved concerns.

In a press statement after the meeting, GTEC’s Director-General, Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, criticized CETAG’s strike as poorly timed and counterproductive.

He urged the association to suspend the strike and participate in continued discussions, assuring them that GTEC is dedicated to addressing their issues.

“This is not happening just suddenly, but we had to start with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission doing the mapping for about one to two months at a very high cost borne by GTEC. And today, for some reason, even informed by the historical doubts that have characterised this process, the CETAG wants to declare a strike.

“We find it extremely, extremely unfortunate that you are withdrawing all services. That means a total shutdown of the institutions, and this is something that GTEC is totally against. So we’ve asked them to go back and reconsider their decision, at best to call off the strike and if for nothing at all, at the time that admissions are going on, WAEC results were released just two days ago, for you to withdraw all your services, then it means that you can’t do admissions.

“When students come to us to choose courses, you should be the person to guide them. So if you say you’ve withdrawn all your services, then we find it extremely, extremely problematic. That notwithstanding, the commission is very committed to getting you migrated to the university,” he stated.