The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that government is processing the release of GH¢41 million to pay book and research allowances to members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) for the 2023/2024 academic year.
He made the announcement at the 14th Congregation and 96th Anniversary celebration of St. John Bosco’s College of Education in Navrongo in the Upper East Region.
CETAG has been on strike since November 24, 2025, over the government’s failure to fully implement the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) May 2023 arbitral award.
Mr. Iddrisu said the Ministry of Finance is at an advanced stage of processing the funds and appealed to CETAG to call off the industrial action to allow academic activities to resume across all colleges of education.
“I am aware that the Government, through the Minister for Finance, Dr. Ato Forson, is processing the release of GH¢41 million for your book and research allowance for 2023–2024. It is now between the Controller and the Accountant-General’s Department and your bank accounts,” he said.
He assured lecturers that payment would be made promptly, expressing confidence that the allowances would be disbursed within a week.
“We will pay you, and we will pay you within the next one week. By February 9, 2026, normal academic work should be restored in all colleges of education throughout Ghana,” the Minister stated.
Mr. Iddrisu further appealed to the striking lecturers to consider the impact of the strike on students, stressing the need for a stable academic environment to support effective teaching and learning.
He noted that government had demonstrated good faith by clearing inherited arrears of book and research allowances and encouraged CETAG to continue engaging constructively to resolve outstanding concerns.
The Education Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to dialogue and the timely fulfilment of obligations to workers in the education sector to ensure lasting stability.
