The University Teachers’ Association of Ghana, University of Ghana Branch (UTAG-UG), has threatened to withdraw teaching and related services from October 19, 2026, if the government fails to pay the 2026 Book and Research Allowance by October 16.
In a notice dated October 9 and addressed to the National Labour Commission (NLC), the association expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as persistent delays in the payment of the allowance.
UTAG-UG said the delay contravenes a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed with the government in 2020, which provides for the allowance to be paid by the end of August each year.
“Given the current circumstances, if by Friday 16th October 2026 these monies are not paid, members of UTAG-UG will withdraw all teaching and related services beginning Monday 19th of October 2026,” the notice stated.
The notice was signed by the branch’s President, Dr Jerry Joe Harrison, and Secretary, Godfred Bright Hagan.
The association copied the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministers for Employment and Labour Relations, Finance and Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and the national leadership of UTAG on the notice.
The threatened industrial action comes amid an ongoing strike by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), which has already affected academic activities at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
In a separate announcement on October 9, KNUST management postponed indefinitely the reopening of the university for the 2026/2027 academic year, which was originally scheduled for October 13.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the Registrar, the decision was necessitated by the ongoing GAUA strike and its impact on the university’s effective operations and administration.
“The University Management will provide further updates on the revised re-opening date in due course,” the statement said.
The notice, signed by Deputy Registrar Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe on behalf of the Registrar, urged students, parents, guardians and other stakeholders to take note of the postponement.
KNUST management apologised for the inconvenience caused by the decision and appealed for the understanding and cooperation of all stakeholders.
The developments raise concerns about the potential impact of labour disputes on academic activities in Ghana’s public universities, particularly if UTAG-UG proceeds with its planned withdrawal of teaching services.
While KNUST has already postponed its reopening indefinitely because of the GAUA strike, the proposed UTAG-UG action would introduce a separate dispute over the payment of allowances into the unfolding labour challenges in the tertiary education sector.
