The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has reminded the government of the critical importance of the timely release of the Book and Research Allowance (BRA) for the 2024/2025 Academic Year, which is almost at an end.
UTAG says they expect that all Members of the union across the various universities receive their BRA for the current academic year as soon as practicable.
“We therefore urge the relevant ministries and agencies – the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department- to expedite the disbursement.
“We further urgently remind the government of the September 2025 deadline for full payment to avoid any industrial actions,” a communique they issued at the end of the Third Quarter National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the UTAG held at the Akenten Appiah Minka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) said.
In the communique, UTAG further noted with great appreciation the announcement by the government through the Minister of Education that forty million Ghana Cedis (GHS40,000,000.00) has been earmarked as a seed funding package aimed at strengthening newly established public universities.
“The said amount, we are told, is to be shared equally amongst C. K. Tedem University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and S. D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SSD-UBIDS),” the said.
“While we commend the Sector Minister and government for this initiative, we further request that the Sector Minister and government extend this initiative to other universities that were established without seed funding. These include the University of Media Arts and Communication (UNIMAC), the University of Environment and Sustainable Development Studies (UESD), the Ghana Communication Technology (GCTU) and the University for Development Studies (UDS).
“Their inclusion will create equity, and thus, we urge the government and the Honourable Minister to take immediate steps to ensure that all public universities established with seed funding benefit from such allocations. Any support to strengthen academic infrastructure must be inclusive and not discriminatory.”
Read below the full communique…
COMMUNIQUÉ BY THE UNIVERSITY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (UTAG)
KUMASI – Following the Third Quarter National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) held ath the Akenten Appiah Minka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) to reflect on current developments within the Ghanaian public university landscape, the Association wishes to bring to the attention of government, university managements, and the general public the following pressing concerns:
- Call for a Holistic Review of Office-Holding Positions Across Public Universities UTAG strongly reiterates its call for a comprehensive and transparent assessment of office-holding arrangements across all public universities in Ghana. We believe that inconsistencies and inequities in office holding policies—particularly in terms of tenure, pay and responsibilities—are undermining academic governance and morale. We call on the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Jobs to work through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to lead a collaborative dialogue with stakeholders to harmonise and regularise these arrangements.
GTEC Urged to Cease Overreach into University Council and Academic Board Decisions
NEC has further observed with concern the increasing trend of disapprovals and cancellations of key decisions taken by University Councils and Academic Boards by GTEC. This approach, rather than fostering alignment and institutional improvement, constitutes an infringement on the academic freedom and institutional autonomy enshrined within the governance framework of public universities. NEC strongly urges GTEC to immediately cease this practice and instead engage in constructive dialogue and collaboration with universities to uphold the principles of autonomy and academic governance.
- Exclusion of Some Universities from the GHS40 Million Seed Money Allocation
UTAG notes with great appreciation the announcement by the government through the Minister of Education that forty million Ghana Cedis (GHS40,000,000.00) has been earmarked as a seed funding package aimed at strengthening newly established public universities. The said amount, we are told, is to be shared equally amongst C. K. Tedem University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and S. D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SSD-UBIDS). While we commend the Sector Minister and government for this initiative, we further request that the Sector Minister and government extend this initiative to other universities that were established without seed funding. These include the University of Media Arts and Communication (UNIMAC), the University of Environment and Sustainable Development Studies (UESD), the Ghana Communication Technology (GCTU) and the University for Development Studies (UDS). Their inclusion will create equity, and thus, we urge the government and the Honourable Minister to take immediate steps to ensure that all public universities established with seed funding benefit from such allocations. Any support to strengthen academic infrastructure must be inclusive and not discriminatory.
- Expedite Payment of Book and Research Allowance (BRA)
UTAG reminds the government of the critical importance of the timely release of the Book and Research Allowance (BRA) for the 2024/2025 Academic Year, which is almost at an end. We expect that all Members of UTAG across the various universities receive their BRA for the current academic year as soon as practicable. We therefore urge the relevant ministries and agencies – the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department- to expedite the disbursement. We further urgently remind the government of the September 2025 deadline for full payment to avoid any industrial actions.
- Disappointment Over Government’s Handling of LI 2462 and the Galamsey Issues
UTAG expresses deep disappointment at the seemingly snail-paced progress in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) and the government’s failure to revoke L.I. 2462. While we recognise the efforts of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund, who in recent times have been reported in the media risking their life visiting galamsey sites, we think the President must do more to support his assigns in this fight. We also acknowledge the efforts of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for his commitment to this fight. We call on the President to take decisive action in punishing those appointees and members of his Party who are frustrating the fight.
Illegal mining (galamsey) is eroding environmental sustainability and directly undermining research, water security, and public health. We call on the government to demonstrate genuine political will by revoking the L.I. 2462, halting all mining-related activities in protected areas, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms. If the seeming lack of progress in the fight against this ecocide persists, UTAG will not hesitate to embark on industrial action as was done last year to press home our demands for decisive action.
- Urgent Need for Recruitment Clearance for Academic Staff
UTAG draws attention to the growing staff deficits in public universities, which are severely affecting academic quality, research, and student support. We urge our sector’s Ministry and the Ministry of Finance to expedite the issuance of financial clearance for the recruitment of new academic staff. Many departments are overstretched, with rising student-to-staff ratios, threatening the quality of teaching and supervision. In the meantime, we call for immediate authorisation to the universities to replace all academic staff who have left to serve the country in other capacities and others in search of greener pastures.
- Warning to University Managements: Frustrating Implementation of Agreed Conditions of Service (CoS)
NEC has observed, with disappointment, that some university management, including the finance and audit departments, has created unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles in implementing the new Conditions of Service (CoS). Requests for additional documentation beyond those agreed upon are unacceptable and undermine trust. UTAG warns such institutions to desist from these actions or risk incurring industrial actions from local Chapters/Branches. If by the end of the 2024/2025 Academic Year, the issue persists, notice is hereby served to all 15 campuses that we will not return to start the 2025/2026 Academic Year on those campuses.
- Delays in the Reconstitution of University Councils
- UTAG notes with concern the protracted delays in the reconstitution of Councils for several public
universities. These delays are adversely affecting strategic decision-making, staff promotions, procurement processes, and overall university governance. We call on the Minister of Education andthe government to treat this issue with the urgency it deserves and facilitate the immediate reconstitutionof all outstanding Councils.
- Proliferation of Honorary Degrees and Fake Academic Certificates
UTAG express its strong condemnation of the growing trend of individuals acquiring and parading honorary doctorate degrees and fraudulent academic certificates, often from unaccredited and questionable institutions, in a manner that undermines the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system.
We have noted with grave concern the increasing abuse and misrepresentation of such honorary titles, particularly when used for professional advancement, public deception, and influence peddling. These actions not only trivialise the rigorous scholarly processes associated with legitimate academic qualifications but also erode public trust in higher education and its regulatory institutions. UTAG fully
supports GTEC in its efforts to regulate, monitor, and, where necessary, sanction individuals and organisations involved in the proliferation and misuse of fake academic titles. We commend your recent public statements and actions taken against such malpractices and urge you to intensify the clampdown, including legal prosecution where applicable.
- Post-Retirement Contracts and Office Holding in Public Universities
NEC acknowledges with appreciation the government’s affirmation of post-retirement contract arrangements for our esteemed scholars who, upon retirement, possess a wealth of tacit and explicit knowledge. Their continued contributions in mentoring, postgraduate supervision, advanced research, project development, and grantsmanship are invaluable to the academic community and national development. We believe that extending or offering a post-retirement contract to our members allows for impactful lifelong service. However, UTAG strongly opposes the allocation of office-holding roles to post-retirement contract staff. This stance is informed by the significant number of qualified active members who are available and capable of serving in such leadership and administrative roles. NEC emphasises that recent court rulings and earlier decisions by GTEC—particularly those relating to CKTUTAS, SDD-UBIDS, and UniMAC- should guide institutions in avoiding such administrative challenges.
We firmly advocate that retired academic staff on contract be engaged primarily in research, mentorship, and teaching roles, rather than occupying positions of administrative authority. In this regard, UTAG respectfully calls on GTEC to withdraw its directive contained in the letter dated 16th May 2025, which permits post-retirement contract staff to hold office upon application.
Conclusion
UTAG reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence, institutional development, and national progress. However, these goals cannot be achieved in an environment of neglect, bureaucratic inertia, and broken promises. We urgently call on the government and our university authorities to address these concerns promptly.
