The Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has announced a significant increase in the government’s allocation for the Book and Research Allowance, raising it from GH¢408 million to GH¢610 million for the 2025 fiscal year.
The announcement comes at a time when tertiary education unions were intensifying pressure on the government, threatening to resort to industrial action over delays in the release of the allowance.
Hon. Iddrisu made the disclosure at the opening of the 22nd Biennial National Delegates Conference of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), held in Tamale on Tuesday, September 30.
The conference brought together academics and stakeholders in higher education to deliberate on pressing issues confronting the sector, particularly the challenges of funding research and sustaining academic excellence in Ghana’s tertiary institutions.
“In recent months, there were threats of industrial action over the book and research allowance. I am pleased to inform you that the government has increased the allocation from GH¢408 million to GH¢610 million this year, and the disbursement process is currently underway”.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education
The increase marks a major policy response to long-standing demands by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).
These unions had in recent months expressed frustration over the delay in the release of funds, describing the allowance as a vital component of their conditions of service and a necessity for advancing research output in Ghana.
Hon. Iddrisu assured delegates that the Ministry of Education, working closely with the Ministry of Finance, is putting in place measures to ensure the timely release of the funds to prevent further disruptions in the academic calendar.
“We recognise the importance of research in driving innovation and improving the quality of teaching in our universities, technical universities, and colleges of education. That is why we are committed to making sure this allowance is not only released but released on time”.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education
The Book and Research Allowance has, over the years, been a source of tension between successive governments and tertiary education unions. While the allowance is designed to support lecturers and researchers in acquiring essential academic resources, funding constraints and delays in disbursement have frequently sparked threats of strikes, with unions insisting that any interruption to the scheme undermines research productivity and academic quality.
A Sign of Relief
The latest increment is therefore seen as a relief to stakeholders, as it reflects the government’s acknowledgment of the critical role research plays in national development.
Ghana’s tertiary education system faces mounting demands to produce graduates with skills relevant to the labour market while also advancing scholarly research that contributes to national policy and global knowledge; hence, adequate funding of research remains central to achieving this balance.
For unions like UTAG, the Book and Research Allowance is not just a financial benefit but a key driver of academic excellence. In past negotiations, UTAG and its affiliates have highlighted the gap between Ghana and other countries in research funding, calling for a more comprehensive policy to sustain academic research. With universities competing globally for recognition and partnerships, they argue that Ghana cannot afford to underfund its research sector.
Hon. Iddrisu’s announcement is expected to ease tensions and avert the possibility of a nationwide strike that could have disrupted academic activities across universities, technical universities, and colleges of education. However, union leaders are likely to keep pressing for assurances on consistency and timeliness of disbursement, as past experiences of delayed release of funds have eroded trust.
The Minister, who recently assumed office, has sought to position himself as a bridge-builder between the government and education stakeholders. By addressing the allowance issue at UTAG’s conference, he signaled the government’s intention to engage more constructively with unions. His remarks underscored a recognition that funding research is not optional but essential to Ghana’s broader educational and economic goals.
The increment of the Book and Research Allowance to GH¢610 million thus represents both a policy decision and a political commitment by the government to support higher education. The success of the initiative will depend not only on the amount earmarked but also on the efficiency of the release process.
While it may not resolve all the challenges in Ghana’s tertiary education sector, it offers a crucial step toward fostering better relations with unions and ensuring that research continues to thrive as a backbone of academic and national development.
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