The Vice President of the Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG), Prof. Eric Awere, has accused the government of intentionally stalling ongoing negotiations concerning the payment of Book and Research Allowances.
Speaking during an interview on ABC in the Morning, Prof. Awere described the government’s approach as “tactical,” criticizing what he called a calculated delay in the disbursement of arrears owed to academic staff.
This accusation comes amid rising tensions between the government and key teacher unions in the tertiary education sector.
His comments follow a joint ultimatum from TUTAG, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), demanding immediate payment of outstanding allowances and the release of the applicable exchange rate.
The three unions have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike starting Thursday, June 13, 2025, if their demands are not met.
According to their statement, the delay has created deep frustration and uncertainty, affecting the professional output and research obligations of their members across institutions.
Prof. Awere emphasized that despite months of correspondence and meetings with both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, the government has failed to take any concrete steps.
“We want the exchange rate and the payment processes to commence before the 13th,” he stressed, urging the National Labour Commission to step in.
The situation underscores a growing political standoff, as the unions accuse government officials of politicizing a routine obligation and eroding trust between educators and state institutions.
