Government Approves Book and Research Allowance for Public Tertiary Institutions

Government Approves Book and Research Allowance for Public Tertiary Institutions – 2024/2025 Academic Year.

In a significant development for Ghana’s higher education sector, the government has officially approved the payment of Book and Research Allowances for senior members of public universities and colleges of education for the 2024/2025 academic year.

This move is expected to ease financial pressures and address long-standing concerns within academia.

According to a circular confirmed by Citi News, academic senior staff will each receive $1,500 for Book Allowance and $1,600 for Research Allowance. In addition, non-academic senior staff will also be entitled to a Book Allowance of $1,500.

How Much Will Beneficiaries Receive in Ghana Cedis?

The Ghana Cedi (GHS) equivalent of the allowances will be calculated using the Bank of Ghana’s average exchange rate of GHS15.47 to $1, based on the official exchange rate from September 2, 2024, to March 28, 2025.

This means each academic staff member is expected to receive approximately:

• GHS23,205 as Book Allowance
• GHS24,752 as Research Allowance
• GHS23,205 as Book Allowance for non-academic senior members

This financial intervention demonstrates the government’s recognition of the critical role research and teaching play in national development.

Who Qualifies for the Allowance?

The directive strictly applies to senior members of all public tertiary institutions, including members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG). Junior staff and other non-eligible personnel will not be covered under this policy.

Background: Unions Threaten Strike Over Delayed Payments

Prior to this announcement, three major unions, University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), and Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), issued a joint statement on June 9, 2025, threatening a nationwide strike if the allowances were not paid by June 13, 2025.

The unions cited “undue delay” in releasing the official exchange rate needed to compute the allowances as a key point of contention.

Their collective frustration stemmed from what they described as a lack of urgency on the part of government agencies in fulfilling their financial commitments to educators.

What This Means for Stakeholders

This approval not only ensures academic continuity but also strengthens the morale of Ghana’s hardworking educators.

It reflects a positive step toward resolving longstanding labor tensions while reaffirming the government’s commitment to investing in quality tertiary education.

Timely implementation of the directive is now crucial to avoid industrial action and ensure a smooth academic year.

As stakeholders await disbursement, all eyes are on tertiary institutions to act fast and meet the Ministry of Finance’s guidelines.

Source: honestynewsgh.com