The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has requested that government disburses their Book and Research Allowance (BRA) for the 2022/2023 academic year by Saturday, October 21. They have cautioned that failing to comply with this request may result in an industrial action.This warning was officially conveyed in a communiqué issued by UTAG on Monday, October 16.

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The document was signed by UTAG's National President, Professor Mamudu A. Akudugu, and National Secretary, Dr. Elliasu Mumuni. According to the communiqué, the delayed disbursement of the BRA is causing unrest on university campuses.

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The release stated, “UTAG clarifies that the implementation of the National Research Fund should not replace the infamous Book and Research Allowance (BRA), which is a critical component of the conditions of service of the Members of UTAG, which has been delayed unduly for the already completed 2022/2023 Academic year as many Lecturers in public universities are yet to receive this reimbursable expenditure.

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This is creating tension on our campus.”“We are urging the Government to ensure that all UTAG Members receive their BRA by the 21st of October to avoid disrupting industrial harmony,” UTAG stated in the release. We urge the government to ensure that all UTAG members receive their BRA by October 21 to maintain industrial harmony," UTAG emphasized in its release".

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In addition, UTAG also condemned recent attacks on the media in the country, noting that these incidents are not in the national interest.“Congress of UTAG observed with sadness the increasing attacks on the freedom of expression and of the Media. These developments are not in the interest of our growing democratic dispensation.

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”“The recent attacks on journalists and some media houses in the country are attacks on freedom of expression as guaranteed in Chapter 12 of Article 162 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.”Consequently, UTAG has called on the Ghana Police Service to promptly apprehend and prosecute those responsible for these acts.

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“While condemning these acts of violence and lawlessness, UTAG commends the police for acting swiftly to arrest some individuals who recently attacked journalists and panellists at United Television (UTV).

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”“We call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure that perpetrators of all attacks on journalists, including the one on Citi FM journalists, media houses and killings of journalists in the country, are arrested and prosecuted without fail.”

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