The University of Development Studies branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has said that Ghana’s tertiary education system would improve if Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai were removed as Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, January 29, Dr. Kamaldeen Yussif, Secretary of UTAG-UDS, acknowledged that Professor Jinapor has made positive contributions, including fast-tracking accreditation processes and improving regulatory oversight.
However, he raised concerns that the Director-General and his deputy have repeatedly acted beyond their established mandate, undermining governance norms at universities.
“Our argument wasn’t that he has not done anything good. He’s sanitised the academic landscape, and he’s fast-tracked accreditation processes. However, there are a number of issues that we’ve consistently engaged with him to change so that we will work together amicably, but the director and the deputy have insisted over and over again to work beyond what is established for them,” Dr. Yussif said.
He cited instances where Professor Jinapor allegedly assumed responsibilities meant for university councils and reassigned duties arbitrarily, actions he said had never occurred under previous regimes.
“He’s been written to multiple times about some of these conducts but he’s failed to adhere to that, plus what is happening in our sister campuses. We think that it is better for the university and tertiary education landscape that he goes,” Dr. Yussif added.
This comes amid contrasting views from the UDS branch of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), which has publicly endorsed Professor Jinapor, praising his leadership for strengthening academic standards, student welfare, and institutional governance.
Read more below
UDS Administrators back GTEC Boss Prof. Abdulai