UTAG-UCC calls for dialogue as GTEC halts key approvals

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has cracked the whip on the University of Cape Coast (UCC) by suspending the processing of crucial requests, including those related to accreditation, funding, and recruitment.

“The requests that GTEC has decided not to honor are concerning, and we, as a union, held a meeting today. Members are understandably heartbroken about this development,” remarked Jerry Opoku-Ansah, President of UTAG-UCC.

He emphasised the importance of mediation and institutional dialogue as critical steps toward resolving disputes and restoring normal operations at UCC.

According to a report by citinewsroom.com on September 24, 2025, this decision has raised significant concern among faculty and staff, prompting the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to call for immediate dialogue to address the escalating situation.

“In issues like these, it is essential that cool heads prevail. We need dialogue and mediation to reach an amicable solution on our campus,” Opoku-Ansah stated during an interview on Citi Eyewitness News on September 23, 2025.

The suspension by GTEC has heightened tensions surrounding the tenure of UCC's Vice-Chancellor, Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong.

The suspension, which took effect on September 22, 2025, is related to a dispute over Prof Boampong’s alleged breach of the mandatory retirement age.

Previously, GTEC had instructed him to vacate his position, citing legal findings that he had exceeded the mandatory retirement age of 60.

The issue is currently under review by the Cape Coast High Court, and GTEC has directed the UCC Governing Council not to appoint a new substantive Vice-Chancellor until the legal proceedings are concluded.

In response, Prof Boampong’s legal team has formally demanded that GTEC retract its letter requesting his resignation.

In a strongly worded letter dated September 19, 2025, addressed to GTEC and copied to key stakeholders, including the Minister of Education, the Chancellor and Council Chair of UCC, and the Chairman of Vice-Chancellors' Ghana, Prof Boampong’s lawyers characterised GTEC’s directive as unlawful and in violation of an existing court order.

“It is troubling that you have issued a letter suspending our client’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor,” the letter stated.

The lawyers reminded GTEC that the Constitution allows the employment of individuals over 60 under certain conditions, a provision they argue supports Prof Boampong’s continued tenure.

“Your actions not only disregard court orders but also circumvent the Statutes of the University,” they added, referencing UCC’s rollover policy and university statutes as legal grounds for Prof Boampong’s continued service.

NAD/VPO

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