UTAG-UG Gives Gov’t October 20 Deadline To Avert Strike

The University of Ghana branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG) has given government until Tuesday, October 20, to show commitment to paying the Book and Research Allowance (BRA) owed to lecturers, or face industrial action.

The association had earlier threatened to withdraw its services from October 19 if the allowances were not paid by October 16.

Speaking to the media, UTAG-UG President, Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison, said the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department had assured the association that payment would be made by the end of Monday, October 19.

He said the union was therefore giving government until Tuesday to honour that assurance before taking a final decision on the strike.

“After we announced our decision to embark on strike, there have been some movements. The Controller says he’s willing to pay, so if you’re willing to pay, then let’s see what actions the Controller is taking that mean that he’s going to pay,” Dr. Harrison said.

He explained that the association would monitor the concrete steps taken by government before deciding its next move.

“We are giving ourselves a day to see what concrete actions are going to be taken, and then, based on that, we take the next action,” he added.

Dr. Harrison noted that UTAG-UG had engaged government on the matter, and it was because of those engagements that it had not yet declared a strike.

“There are a few things that need to happen today, so we are giving ourselves today, tomorrow to see what happens before taking a decision. We’ve had some engagement with government, because of that we haven’t declared another strike, so we are waiting today, tomorrow to see what happens,” he said.

Meanwhile, the University of Ghana has reopened for the 2026/2027 academic year, with students settling into their halls of residence. Lectures are scheduled to begin on Monday, October 26, 2026.