The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has expressed disappointment over remarks made by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), Prof Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, regarding the Book and Research Allowances (BRA) paid to UTAG members.

The Vice Chancellor’s remarks were made at a public lecture organised by the SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies.

Prof Kwansah-Aidoo’s proposed that the allowance be abolished and replaced with an application-based research fund.

But UTAG said that the remarks were ‘sneering’ and disheartening noting that “such significant remarks were made with a limited understanding of what the BRA is used for.”

“We find his comments as coming from a place of disdain and a depiction of a long-standing culture of some academics climbing to the top and turning back to remove the very ladder that led them there. His statement that, he does not know what academics do with the BRA is condescending, distasteful, and pretentious, to say the least.”

According to UTAG, the Book and Research Allowance (BRA) is not only used for scholarly publications, as suggested by the Vice Chancellor.

In a statement signed by National Secretary Eliasu Mumuni, UTAG added that, the allowance is also crucial in supporting the academic pursuits and professional development of its members, and in promoting a culture of research excellence within universities.

 The Union explained that its research activities do not only result in scholarly publications, but also contribute to enhancing teaching and making contributions to society.

The Union stressed that the Vice Chancellor’s proposal to abolish the BRA is based on a limited understanding of research activities.

The association called for an apology from the Vice Chancellor for his remarks.

“We call on the Vice Chancellor to apologise to the entire membership of UTAG and, in subsequent pronouncements, engage in constructive dialogue with UTAG to gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives, concerns and research efforts of our members,” portions of the February 3 statement read.

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has asked government to pay them their 2023/23 Book and Research Allowance (BRA) by Saturday, October 21. 

It said if this warning is not heeded, they will embark on an industrial action. 

UTAG issued the warning in its communiqué released on Monday, October 16, signed by its National President, Professor Mamudu A. Akudugu and National Secretary, Dr Elliasu Mumuni. 

According to the release, the delay in the payment is creating tension on campuses. 

“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. 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. 

Meanwhile, UTAG also condemned the recent media attacks the country has witnessed. 

According to the Association, these developments 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.”

“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.”

It has thus asked the Ghana Police Service to immediately arrest and prosecute the culprits. 

“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).”

“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.”

Four labour unions in the public universities have declared their intention to embark on a never-before-seen strike beginning Thursday, October 13, 2022.

“This gives the employer and all stakeholders of tertiary education in Ghana one crucial week to reverse the directive that seeks to negatively compromise the conditions of service of university workers,” they said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU) and the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) want the government to settle their outstanding online teaching support allowance (OTSA) and non-payroll allowances.

Amongst other demands, the unions also want government to settle the payment of the Book and Research Allowance for 2022 and implement the agreement reached in March on the implementation of the market premium or review the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2023.

On Wednesday, September 28, the unions met at the University of Professional Studies, Accra where they planned to start the industrial action on October 5.

The reschedule of the commencement date, according to them, is to provide the government some time to relook its “blatant universal variation of agreed conditions of service in the face of the hostile economic conditions.”

“We know the language that easily sinks in their psyche, and we will speak it in one (1) week if they fail to heed to their own agreement with us,” the unions said in a statement issued earlier.

The four labour unions claimed that currently, Vice-Chancellors, through their Finance Directors apply the ¢10.99 ex-pump approved rate only to fuel allowance without considering vehicle maintenance and Off-Campus allowances.

They want such action by the Vice-Chancellors to be addressed or a possible total withdrawal of their services across all Public Universities in Ghana will be the resultant action.

“Meanwhile, the national leadership of the labour unions in the public universities in Ghana entreat all members to stay calm and cooperate with leadership as we navigate this trying moment.”

National President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana says there was an intention by the Mahama-led NDC administration to cancel the Book and Research Allowance for university lecturers.

According to Prof. Charles Ofosu Marfo, the decision was rescinded only after the lecturers had threatened to strike.

In the lead up to the December 7 polls, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has stated the ruling NPP restored the Book and Research Allowance.

But former Education Minister under the NDC administration, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, insists the claim by the NPP is false.

Former District Chief Executive for the Sekyere Afram Plains, Fuseini Donkor says the NDC only sought to replace the Research allowance with a National Research Fund.

“Results from research by lecturers which were paid for, were not forthcoming. The research allowance became mandatory. It was as if it was part of their salaries. Whether the lecturer does a research or not, he is still paid.”

“There was burden on others who were doing genuine research. The funding for such research was not enough. A research conducted in chemistry or physics is quite different research conducted in the social sciences. The cost of science related researches is more. Unfortunately, monies allocated to all, are the same.”

“The NDC government was proposing a national research fund. This national fund will be used to fund researches that need higher budgetary allocations,” he said.

A member of the NPP’s Communication team, Yaw Opoku Mensah, believes the implementation was intentionally put on hold by the NDC for political expediency.

“The cancellation was supposed to take effect in 2017. They only put a hold on it right after the election that is if they had won. Lecturers were to be denied their research allowance in 2016/2017 academic year,” he observed.

National President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, Professor Charles Ofosu Marfo, also explained the NDC government rescinded the decision to scrap the research allowance due to protests by the lecturers.

“There was a clear intent to cancel the Book and Research Allowance. A lot of discussions were held because of that. We indicated that if they go ahead with it, the association would go on a strike. Yes, there was that intent, but it was never cancelled,” he said.