Tension is brewing in Ghana’s education sector as three major teacher unions, UTAG, TUTAG, and CETAG, have jointly issued a warning to the government over what they describe as an unacceptable delay in the release of the exchange rate and payment of the Book and Research Allowance (BRA).
In a press release issued today, Monday, June 9, 2025, 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 their collective frustration over the government’s silence and inaction.
The unions say their members are growing increasingly distressed as the delay disrupts their ability to conduct research, acquire academic materials, and fulfill scholarly responsibilities, tasks that the BRA is specifically intended to support.
Following a joint meeting on June 8, the three unions unanimously agreed that the government must, as a matter of urgency, release the official exchange rate and commence payments without delay. They emphasized that although the rate has been delayed, they will not entertain any excuse for payments extending beyond September 2025.
Most notably, they have served notice that if the government fails to begin payment by Friday, June 13, 2025, the action will be taken as a strike notice across all public universities, technical universities, and colleges of education in Ghana.
“This allowance is not negotiable. It is a legal entitlement under our Conditions of Service,” the statement read. “We urge the government to act now to prevent unnecessary disruption to the academic calendar.”
The looming strike, if triggered, could have far-reaching effects on teaching, research, and student learning nationwide. The unions are calling on the government to demonstrate its commitment to education by resolving the matter without further delay.
