University teachers threaten strike over delayed payment of book & research allowance

The three major tertiary education unions — the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) — have jointly issued a strong warning to the government over delays in the release and payment of their Book and Research Allowance (BRA), an essential academic support fund.

In the press release dated June 9, 2025, and signed by the national leadership of all the three unions, the groups expressed growing frustration and discontent over what they describe as the government’s undue delay in publishing the exchange rate and commencing disbursement of the BRA for the 2024/2025 academic year.

The BRA, a statutory entitlement under the Conditions of Service for tertiary educators, is a critical component in the funding of research, scholarly work, and knowledge development in Ghana’s higher education institutions.

According to the unions, the persistent delays in releasing the exchange rate — which determines the value of the allowance due to its dollar-based calculation — have created uncertainty and impeded academic planning.

At a joint emergency meeting held on June 8, 2025, UTAG, TUTAG, and CETAG unanimously resolved to reject any extension of payment beyond September 2025, regardless of when the rates are released.

The unions emphasized that they had already endured late payments in previous years and would not tolerate further delays.

“If the government fails to commence the payment process by June 13, 2025, it will be considered an official strike notice,” the statement declared, signaling potential widespread industrial action across all public universities, technical universities, and colleges of education nationwide.

The unions have warned that any failure to act within the stated timeframe will trigger coordinated strike action, with severe implications for the academic calendar and ongoing educational activities across the country.

The statement urged the government to act immediately to avoid avoidable disruptions and protect the academic future of thousands of students.

This development follows a series of previous tensions between academic staff unions and the government over conditions of service, salary arrears, and delays in allowances.

The BRA, in particular, has become a recurring flashpoint, with annual grievances over delays becoming an almost ritual standoff in the education sector.

The union leaders who signed the statement include Prof. Mamudu A. Akudugu (UTAG National President), Prof. Uriah S. Tetteh (TUTAG President), and Maxwell Bunu (CETAG National President), along with their respective secretaries. Contact information for all signatories was made public to facilitate further communication.

The joint declaration is the latest in a series of increasingly firm positions taken by organized labor in the education sector, with calls mounting for systemic reforms to avoid recurrent conflicts and ensure stable funding for academic research.