Gov’t Set to Pay GH¢41m CETAG Allowances
The government has begun steps to release GH¢41 million in book and research allowances owed to members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) for the 2023/2024 academic year.
Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu made the announcement during the 14th Congregation and 96th Anniversary celebrations of St John Bosco’s College of Education in Navrongo, Upper East Region. He explained that the Ministry of Finance has already started processing the funds and assured lecturers that payment will be completed soon.
CETAG has been on strike since November 24, 2025, over the delayed implementation of an arbitral award issued by the National Labour Commission in May 2023. The strike has disrupted teaching and learning nationwide, leaving students stranded.
Mr. Iddrisu explained that government, through the Finance Minister, is currently processing the release of GH¢41 million for book and research allowances covering the 2023–2024 academic year. He said the payment is now being handled by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department and will soon be transferred into lecturers’ bank accounts. He promised that the allowances would be paid within a week, adding that by February 9, 2026, normal academic work should resume in all colleges of education across the country.
The Education Minister appealed to CETAG members to suspend the strike, stressing the impact on students and the need for a stable academic environment. He noted that government has already shown goodwill by clearing arrears inherited from previous years and urged continued dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.
“We should not get to a point of conflict over the unpaid book and research allowance. Let us maintain a serene academic environment so that our children can learn,” he said.
Mr Iddrisu reaffirmed government’s commitment to constructive engagement with education sector workers and pledged that obligations would be met promptly. He emphasized that lasting industrial harmony is crucial for effective teaching and learning in Ghana’s colleges of education.
The release of the GH¢41 million allowance is expected to ease tensions and pave the way for lecturers to return to the classroom, restoring normal academic activities after months of disruption.
