GTEC boss questions CETAG strike after government pays major arrears

Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, says the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) should reconsider its fresh strike, arguing that the government has already cleared the bulk of arrears owed to the association.

Speaking on TV3 on Tuesday, Prof. Jinapor said an arbitration award by the National Labour Commission led to the settlement of CETAG’s arrears from 2023 to 2025 and their full migration onto the salary structure of traditional universities.

He noted that all salary arrears due to CETAG from January 2023 to December 2024, including teaching support allowances, have been paid.

He added that the government has also honoured CETAG’s Book and Research Allowance for the 2024/2025 academic year at the same rate applied in traditional universities.

“Today, as we speak, the Book and Research Allowance that was owed them from 2024/2025 has been paid,” he said.

According to him, the only outstanding item is the 2023/2024 Book and Research Allowance, which both the government and GTEC are aware of and are working to resolve. Prof. Jinapor explained that the government recently released GHC 610 million to clear book and research arrears for universities and colleges of education, compared to GHC 480 million last year, signalling a sustained commitment to tertiary-sector financing.

He argued that CETAG’s decision to strike despite these payments is premature.

“If the government has paid this, I think it is a rush for CETAG to go on strike because there are some outstanding arrears,” he said.

Prof. Jinapor urged CETAG to exercise restraint as efforts continue to settle the remaining obligations.