Three major tertiary education unions in Ghana—UTAG, TUTAG, and CETAG—have jointly issued an ultimatum to the government over delays in the payment of their Book and Research Allowance (BRA). The associations state that if payment processes do not commence by Thursday, the 13th of June, 2025, they will embark on a nationwide strike.
In a joint statement issued today, 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) expressed what they called “deep concern and discontent” over what they described as an undue delay in releasing the approved exchange rate and subsequent payment of the allowance.
“This delay has caused significant uncertainty and frustration among our members, who depend on this critical support for their research and academic work,” the unions said.
Following a joint meeting held on the 8th of June 2025, the associations resolved that the government must urgently release the applicable exchange rate and commence the payment process.
“Despite the late release of the rates, we have resolved that we will not accept an extension of payments beyond September 2025,” they stressed. “This allowance is a statutory entitlement under our Conditions of Service and an essential resource for advancing research, teaching, and knowledge sharing.”
The unions warned that failure to act by the deadline would be treated as a formal strike notice.
“If the government fails to commence the payment process by the 13th of June 2025, this will trigger an immediate industrial action across all campuses,” the statement warned.
The associations concluded by urging swift government intervention to avoid disruptions to the academic calendar. “We urge the government to act swiftly to avert any disruption and ensure that the welfare of teachers and the broader academic community is prioritised.”
