News
Govt approves 2024/25 Book and Research allowance rates for Senior Staff
Government has approved the payment of Book and Research Allowances for senior members of public universities and colleges of education for the 2024/2025 academic year, Citi News can confirm.
Under the approved structure, academic staff will receive $1,500 as Book Allowance and $1,600 as Research Allowance. Non-academic senior staff will receive $1,500 as Book Allowance. The cedi equivalent is to be calculated using the Bank of Ghana’s average exchange rate of GHS15.47 to $1.00, covering the period from 2nd September 2024 to 28th March 2025.
The directive, which applies to all public tertiary institutions and members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), specifies that only senior members are eligible for the payments.
Required Validation and Audit Controls
The Ministry of Finance, in a June 2025 circular referenced in the document, requires that all claims submitted must be audited and validated by Internal Audit Units of the respective institutions before forwarding to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for processing and payment.
Institutions have been asked to submit two copies of audited claims for both academic and non-academic senior members, using a standardised claims template attached to the communication.
Approved Allowance Rates
| Staff Category | Book Allowance | Research Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Senior Members – Universities | $1,500 | $1,600 |
| Non-Academic Senior Members – Universities | $1,500 | – |
| Academic Staff – Colleges of Education | $1,500 | $1,660 |
The directive is expected to trigger immediate submissions from institutions amid ongoing tension within the tertiary education sector over salary arrears, cost-of-living pressures, and outstanding allowances.
Citi News understands that institutions are expected to comply promptly to ensure timely disbursement for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Background
Three key unions in tertiary education — the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) — have jointly threatened a nationwide strike if government fails to pay their book and research allowances by June 13, 2025.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 9, the three unions expressed frustration over what they described as the “undue delay” in releasing the exchange rate required to compute their book and research allowances.
They warned that the delay has created “significant uncertainty and frustration” among members, as many depend on the funds to support academic work and research activities.
Following a joint meeting on June 8, the unions resolved that while they are prepared to accommodate the late release of the exchange rate, they will not accept any extension of payment beyond September 2025.
They stressed that the allowance is a statutory obligation under their Conditions of Service, not a discretionary gesture.
The unions warned that failure by the government to honour the June 13 deadline will be treated as an official strike notice, triggering industrial action across all affected campuses.
Education
Over 10 Students Arrested Over Okuapeman-Mount Sinai SHS Clash
More than 10 students have been apprehended in connection with the clashes between Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The arrests follow reprisal attacks between students of the two schools, which resulted in the burning and destruction of several structures on both campuses in the early hours of Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, September 2, Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Owusu-Bempah, said some of the students fled their schools when the police arrived. Still, he warned that their absence would not prevent the police from arresting them.
“We have apprehended them. And there are more,” he said, adding that the police are compiling a comprehensive list of all persons involved in the violence.
He disclosed that the investigation had also uncovered information suggesting that some teachers may have encouraged students to attack their counterparts.
According to him, the police have obtained the names of teachers allegedly linked to the incident and will take action against them if investigations establish their involvement.
“We have the names of the teachers. They have nowhere to go. At the appropriate time, we will arrest all of them, and their names will be published,” DCOP Owusu-Bempah warned.
DCOP Owusu-Bempah assured the public that anyone found to have participated in the violence would be dealt with in accordance with the law, while urging students to return to school and cooperate with the investigation.
He also appealed against any interference in the police process, warning that such actions could undermine efforts to restore calm and ensure accountability.
At Okuapeman SHS, six students were injured and taken to hospital following the incident. The school’s Headmaster said four of the students had since been treated and discharged, while two remained on admission as of Wednesday.
The exact trigger for the clashes remains unclear, but the police have begun investigations to establish what led to the confrontation and identify all those responsible.
citinewsroom.com
Education
GES Releases National Harmonised Prospectus For 2026/27 SHS Admissions
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the release of the National Harmonised Prospectus for prospective Senior High School (SHS) and Senior High Technical School (SHTS) students for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The prospectus is intended to guide parents and students on the essential items required for enrolment, covering both boarding and day students.
GES has urged parents and students preparing for the next stage of their education to carefully review the prospectus and make the necessary preparations ahead of the commencement of the new academic year.
Schools and other relevant stakeholders have also been directed to adhere to the requirements outlined in the prospectus to ensure a smooth, consistent and standardised admission process nationwide.
The release of the prospectus comes ahead of the announcement of school placements and is expected to help newly admitted students and their parents adequately prepare for enrolment once placements are released.
Parents and prospective students are therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the approved requirements to avoid challenges during the admission process.
Below is the list of items outlined in the prospectus that parents and guardians are required to acquire for their wards:


myjoyonline.com
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