The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdullahi, has warned striking members of the College of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to return to classrooms.
His call follows the immediate disbursement of GHC199 million, the first tranche of the Book and Research Top-Up Allowance, submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
He said teachers would have access to payments from Monday, July 15, 2024 through the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System.
Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdullahi made the remarks in an interview with Channel One News on the sidelines of the induction and investiture ceremony of Prof. Prince Boateng and the 15th General Assembly of the Ada University of Education on Saturday, July 13th.
“We would like to use this opportunity to appeal to all tutors, senior tutors, head tutors and professors in the Faculty of Education to urgently address their grievances without disrupting their academic calendars, as there is empirical evidence to support this and their research fees, book fees and year-round allowances will be paid within the next week to two weeks,” the statement said.
“From Monday, teachers will be able to receive additional allowances for research and book expenses. So I don’t think there is any need for teachers to go on strike. We are just appealing that teachers should return to the classrooms for the sake of students who are in the classrooms so that their schedules are not disrupted.”
CETAG had been on strike since Friday, June 14, 2024, in protest against delays by the government in implementing the arbitration award and negotiated working conditions.
Prof. Jinapor Abdullahi disclosed that the Fair Wages and Salaries Committee had set up a committee to ensure that all members of CETAG were assigned to work systems in their universities.
“Regarding relocation, the determination is firm and efforts are being made. The Fair Wages and Salaries Committee has asked CETAG to send a representative to the committee and the process is expected to start as early as Monday, July 15, so there is no need to worry.”
He further said the government has demonstrated sufficient commitment to address all outstanding issues of CETAG.
He noted that it was important for the striking teachers to return to prevent further disruptions to the semester.
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