Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has assured Parliament that government is actively engaging the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) over the delayed payment of book and research allowances in a bid to avert any potential disruption to tertiary education.
Appearing before Parliament on Friday, May 29, the Minister disclosed that he had personally met the leadership of UTAG to discuss concerns surrounding the unpaid allowances, which have sparked growing anxiety among lecturers across public tertiary institutions.
“I invited the lady president of UTAG and her national leadership to engage with me on the outstanding book and research allowance,” Mr. Iddrisu told the House.
The issue was raised by the Member of Parliament for Offinso North, who sought clarification on steps being taken by the Ministry to prevent an impending strike action by university lecturers over the delayed payments.
Responding to the concerns, Mr. Iddrisu explained that the book and research allowance forms part of the approved conditions of service for lecturers in public tertiary institutions and is negotiated between government and UTAG under the framework of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
According to him, the allowance was introduced to support research, professional development and the preparation of quality teaching and learning materials in universities.
“It recognizes the unique nature of academic work which requires sustained investment to maintain academic standards, promote research output and enhance the quality of tertiary education delivery,” the Minister explained.
Mr. Iddrisu disclosed that he has formally written to the Minister for Finance requesting the release of funds for the payment of the outstanding allowances.
However, he noted that the major disagreement between government and UTAG currently centres on the exchange rate to be used in calculating the payments.
“The debate is about what exchange rate regime will be used,” he stated.
According to the Minister, lecturers who anticipated calculations based on higher exchange rates expected to receive larger payments, but the recent appreciation of the Ghana cedi has altered expectations.
“Those of them who would have calculated their book and research allowance at an exchange rate of GH¢15 or GH¢16 to the dollar would have expected to earn more. Thanks to better management of the economy, the exchange rate is down, so they will get less. They are not happy about it,” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu stressed that the determination of the exchange rate falls under the mandate of the Ministry of Finance and not the Ministry of Education.
He assured Parliament that once the Finance Ministry concludes its decision, the outcome would immediately be communicated to UTAG.
The Minister further sought to calm tensions among lecturers by highlighting government’s decision to exempt academic staff from the compulsory retirement age of 60.
He revealed that President John Dramani Mahama had directed that lecturers and professors in tertiary institutions should not be affected by the retirement policy due to the critical nature of their work.
Mr. Iddrisu illustrated the practical implications of enforcing retirement during an academic semester, explaining that lecturers who conduct examinations may still need time beyond their 60th birthday to mark scripts and release results.
“Assuming a lecturer conducts exams in July and his last birthday is 30th July, that same lecturer has to mark the papers in order that he can release results,” he said.
The Minister explained that the exemption policy is being managed in consultation with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to ensure proper implementation.
He assured Members of Parliament that government remains committed to resolving the book and research allowance issue and maintaining stability within the tertiary education sector.
“The book and research allowance will be paid at an exchange rate determined by the Minister for Finance,” he stated.
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