ACCRA — Lecture halls at the University of Ghana could fall silent next week. The University of Ghana branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG) has served notice that its members will withdraw all teaching and related academic services from Monday, October 19, 2026.

The lecturers have one demand: payment of their 2026 Book and Research Allowance. They have given the government until Friday, October 16 to pay it, or face a full strike at the country's premier university.

A broken agreement

At the heart of the dispute is a promise the lecturers say the government has failed to keep. In an official notice dated October 9, 2026, and addressed to the National Labour Commission (NLC), UTAG-UG expressed strong dissatisfaction over persistent delays in paying the allowance.

The association argues that the delay is more than an inconvenience. It says the government is in direct breach of a 2020 Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the two parties. That agreement requires the annual Book and Research Allowance to be paid in full by the end of August each year. By the time of the notice, that deadline had passed by more than five weeks.

The allowance supports lecturers' purchase of books, research materials and equipment, which are central to their teaching and research work.

Government agencies on notice

The notice, signed by UTAG-UG President Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison, has been served on the key state bodies responsible for the payment:

  • the Ministry of Finance
  • the Ministry of Education
  • the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations
  • the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission
  • the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission

Copies have also gone to the national executive of UTAG, as the branch aligns its strategy ahead of the possible strike.

What is at stake

If the October 16 deadline passes without payment, the strike would disrupt teaching, the supervision of student research, and general academic activity across the University of Ghana.

Students stand to lose the most. Undergraduates could miss lectures in the middle of the semester. Postgraduate students who depend on supervisors to guide their theses and dissertations could see their work stall.

The clock is ticking

The government now has days, not weeks, to act. All eyes are on the Ministry of Finance and the other agencies served to see whether they will release the funds or open talks with the lecturers before Friday.

Until then, students, parents and university management are left waiting for a response that could decide whether classes continue on Monday.

GhanaNews24.com will continue to follow this story.