Government mobilises GH₵436m for Book and Research Allowances

The Ghanaian government has successfully mobilised approximately GH₵436 million to cover the Book and Research Allowances (BRA) for academic staff across public tertiary institutions. As of October 19, 2026, the first batch of payments, totaling GH₵238 million, has been disbursed to 56 eligible institutions. The remaining GH₵198 million is designated for a second batch of institutions, which includes the University of Ghana, though these payments are currently pending due to technical and administrative requirements.

The delay in disbursement at the University of Ghana has prompted the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG) to issue a formal strike warning, setting a deadline for October 20, 2026. UTAG-UG President Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison indicated that the association considers the delay a breach of a 2020 Memorandum of Agreement that mandates payment by the end of August each year. The association has warned that lecturers will withdraw their services if clear assurances or payments are not provided by the deadline, potentially disrupting the start of the new semester.

Kwasi Agyei, the Controller and Accountant-General, explained that the specific delay for the University of Ghana arose because the institution had not completed the necessary data entry and validation steps on the government’s financial system. While the funds were approved on October 12, technical hurdles at the university level have stalled the processing. Hashmin Mohammed, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, added that all institutional submissions must undergo rigorous validation by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) before the Controller’s department can finalize the transfers.

To resolve the situation and avert industrial action, the Controller’s office has sought assistance from the Ministry of Finance to help the university overcome its technical documentation challenges. The government maintains that the GH₵436 million allocation demonstrates its commitment to supporting research and academic productivity within the sector. This development comes as the University of Ghana begins its 2026/2027 academic year, with classes scheduled to start on October 26.