The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), UCC branch, has expressed concern over the continuous subversion of university autonomy by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
Dr. Jerry Opoku Ansah, UTAG-UCC President, warns that GTEC’s “Sporadic and incessant” directives are rendering university councils useless and disrupting the smooth administration of higher education in the country.
This follows calls by the University of Ghana branch of UTAG (UTAG-UG) and a broader education group for the removal of GTEC leadership. They accuse the commission of gross administrative overreach, incompetence and actions that undermine institutional autonomy and academic freedom.
UTAG-UG has given Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Director-General of GTEC, along with his deputy, Prof. Augustine Ocloo, an ultimatum to resign honourably by January 31, 2026, warning of petitions to the Chief of Staff and possible industrial action if they refuse.
Speaking on the Atlantic Wave, Dr. Opoku Ansah noted that while the UCC branch is yet to issue a formal communique on the removal of GTEC’s leadership, they fully align with the concerns raised by their colleagues at the University of Ghana.
He emphasized that GTEC is overstepping its bounds by ignoring decisions made by University Appointments and Promotions Boards.
“We support our colleagues at UG that they need to engage the universities in some of the decisions that they are taking before directives are issued…we align ourselves with what UG has enumerated,” he said.
Dr. Opoku Ansah said while the removal of GTEC’s leadership is a decision for the appointing authorities, UTAG-UCC is deeply concerned that GTEC is unilaterally violating negotiated conditions of service, specifically by blocking post-retirement contracts despite dangerously high student-to-teacher ratios.
He warned that this unilateral violation of negotiated conditions of service is taking a toll on the health of lecturers and the quality of education.
“G-TEC is not looking at the excessive student-to-lecture ratio,” he said. “It is increasingly having health effects on lecturers. These are issues that need to be addressed so that we know that our regulator is more concerned about the efficiency of the university or tertiary education landscape. And so, we are equally worried about what is happening.”
Dr Opoku Ansah emphasized as a necessary step, UTAG believes the Legislative Instrument (L.I) that established GTEC as a body should be amended.
They argue that universities should be given the room to operate and their independence protected.
He highlighted a staffing gap within the universities, emphasizing that for nearly four years, the government has not issued financial clearance to hire new staff, despite lecturers retiring or passing away.
“We are not able to replace them. And you wouldn’t want this thing to happen in any university anywhere in the world…with this directive of mandatory retirement at 60, the post-retirement contract, yes, members will apply.”
“But what about a colleague who doesn’t have a post-retirement contract? Is it the person who leaves teaching mid-semester or what? What should happen? These are issues that we need to think through and make sure that things are done and done well.”
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