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The University Teachers Association of Ghana, UTAG, has served notice it is unhappy with government�s prolonged silence on negotiations on their book and research allowance. The lecturers last month threatened to lay down their tools over moves to replace the book and research allowance with a research and innovation fund. As a result, they are also demanding payment of their allowances which are in arrears. The matter was subsequently arbitrated by the National Labor Commission which directed a meeting between Government and UTAG to be concluded on May 14. But with barely a week to the deadline, the President of UTAG, Dr. Ofori Bekoe, has told Ultimate Radio the Education Ministry has held just a single meeting with them since the 17th May 2014 directive. �The Ministry called us for a meeting and when we went they asked for some documents which we provided. But since then, they�ve not gotten back to us. It is almost a complete silence from their part,� he stated. He warned that UTAG may take action if Government fails to fulfill its obligation after next week�s deadline. But the Ministry says it remains committed to the negotiations. Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Paul Krampah, told Ultimate Radio, the Ministry is currently studying documents submitted to them by the University Teachers Association. He thus assured that the Ministry will meet with the teachers and resolve the issue before the 13th of May, 2014.