The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), have called on government to pay their book and research allowance to avoid any industrial action.
According to them, they have observed that government is silently refusing to pay their book and research allowance for the 2017/18 academic year.
Speaking at a press conference at the University of Cape Coast, the National President, Dr. Eric Opoku Mensah, said in spite of all the necessary documents provided to the Finance Minister and other appropriate quarters to facilitate the payment of their allowances, it had still not yielded any results.
"Following the lackadaisical attitude of government, UTAG on the 7th of July, 2018, wrote to the Minister of Finance and copied other institutions of government connected with the processing and payment of the book and research allowance (BRA) about the need to make payment by 16th of July, 2018 to forestall agitations on the various campuses. We have still not received any response from government," the statement read.
"We are giving government up to the end of this month to release the book and research allowance or we will advise ourselves," I they cautioned.
He explained that, the press conference is borne out of an emergency meeting of the Natonal Executive Commitee (NEC) to remind government about the growing tension on the various campuses as a result of its failure to pay the book and research allowance.
He noted that as leaders they have been able to manage the uneasy tension on the various campuses, but cannot hold it longer.
The National President called on all Vice Chancellors of the various public universities to take note of the concerns they have raised.
"Should the next academic year calendar be disrupted, don't blame us," Dr. Opoku Mensah stated.
UTAG wants to reiterate the fact that it is committed to deliver quality education in Ghanaian public universities, but will not countenance the insensitivity and unnecessary delay by government in addressing the delay in payment of their book and research allowance.
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