The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has withdrawn its services effective Monday, November 24, 2025, over the government’s failure to fully implement the National Labour Commission (NLC) arbitral award issued on 2nd May 2023.

According to the association, continued government inaction has left it with no alternative but to withdraw all services across the country’s 46 Colleges of Education.

The decision follows an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on November 19, 2025, after which CETAG said government had “persistently failed to fully implement the National Labour Commission (NLC) arbitral award of 2nd May 2023, despite repeated engagements and reminders”.

In a memorandum issued to members, the association said the strike had been triggered by several unresolved grievances.

Among the issues cited were:

- Non-payment of All-Year-Round Work Compensation for additional duties performed in 2022 across 39 Colleges of Education, with CETAG noting that “only partial payment [has been] made to Accra College of Education”.

- Outstanding Book and Research Allowance arrears for the 2023/2024 and 2022/2023 academic years.

- Unpaid Book and Research Top-up arrears for the 2021/2022 academic year owed specifically to Akrokerri College of Education.

- Downgrading of teaching staff holding master’s degrees, which CETAG said “undermines professional dignity and violates agreed conditions of service and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651)”.

The association has ordered a complete halt of academic and administrative duties.

“Members are to cease all teaching, supervision of students on STS, and related academic duties immediately. No member should return to the lecture halls until all the listed grievances are fully resolved,” CETAG directed.

It further stressed that the industrial action was “legitimate and a lawful response to government’s breach of agreements and disregard for the NLC arbitral award”.

Reaffirming its commitment to quality teacher education, CETAG insisted it would not allow its members to be “exploited, disrespected, or further impoverished”.

Its leadership urged all local chairpersons to ensure strict compliance, adding: “We urge all members to stand firm and united in this action until justice is served.”

The strike means services including teaching, community engagements, STS support and supervision, and project work vetting have all been withdrawn.