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GTEC directs Colleges of Education to stay open despite ongoing CETAG strike
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed all colleges of education across the country to remain open pending a final decision on the strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).
CETAG began a nationwide strike on June 14 due to what it said was the government’s failure to implement the arbitral awards and other conditions of service of its members.
There have been calls for the closure of the various colleges of education due to the two-month strike but GTEC insists such a decision has not been reached yet.
GTEC, in a statement, indicated that “the Commission as of today, 16th August 2024, has not reached such a conclusion, neither has it been directed by the Honourable Minister of Education to do same. As a result, all of the 46 Colleges of Education should stay open until further notice.”
Below is the full statement.
UPDATE ON CETAG STRIKE CONCERNS AND COLLEGES OF EDUCATION CLOSURE
The attention of GTEC has been drawn to numerous requests on the need for the closure of the 46 colleges of education in lieu of the impending strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana (CETAG).
The Commission, as of today, 16th August 2024, has not reached such a conclusion, neither has it been directed by the Honourable Minister of Education to do same. As a result, all of the 46 Colleges of education should stay open until further notice.
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. Additionally, the all-year-round payment, which is also an issue of contention, has been initiated on Ghana Integrate Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to enable the Ministry of Finance to issue the release letter and specific warrant for payment to be effected as soon as possible.
Regarding payment of salaries for August, the Commission will communicate directives on the subject once same has been received from the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
In the meantime, the Commission is in serious 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.
GTEC will communicate to you the modalities with which this urgent staff recruitment will be expedited as soon as the clearance is provided.
I am counting on your usual cooperation.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
