Government is appealing to the striking University Teachers of Ghana to return to the classroom as it takes urgent steps to pay their Book and research allowance.

In a statement issued by the Education Ministry, government said " The Ministry is always committed to finding lasting solutions to pertinent issues confronting teachers through the instituted quarterly meeting with Teacher Unions (in this case) UTAG and Polytechnics Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG)."

The statement comes a day after UTAG members declared a strike over the non-payment of their outstanding Book and Research Allowance.

The teachers have over the years protested the non-payment of the allowance and threatened to withdraw their services.

In a season of strikes, the teachers decided to join the doctors, pharmacists, state attorneys and other public sector workers on strike.

But the government said they are working feverishly to resolve the matter.

"At the recent meeting held on June 1, 2015, the Ministry assured the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Polytechnics Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) of its preparedness to pay the Book and Research Allowance for the 2014/2015 academic year.

"The Minister for Education has since requested the confirmation of rates for 2015 implementation, the Cedi to Dollar exchange rate from the Ministry of Finance as well as a request for the Auditor-General to audit the claims of the Institutions within the tertiary sector for the payment of the allowances," the statement said.

"The Ministry therefore, appeals to the Senior Members of the public Tertiary Institutions to call off the strike and exercise maximum restraint while urgent steps are being taken to ensure the payment of the allowances," the statement added.