The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has renewed its demand for the removal of the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, and his deputy, Prof. Augustine Ocloo.
The association says the current leadership’s actions threaten university autonomy and stability within the tertiary education sector.
The call follows an earlier petition submitted to President John Dramani Mahama in February, which UTAG says has not received any acknowledgment since February this year.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, April 13, UTAG National President, Prof. Vera Ogeh Fiador, said the association had exhausted all avenues of engagement with GTEC.
UTAG accused the Commission of regulatory overreach, alleging that its leadership has adopted a coercive and centralised approach that undermines the role of university governing councils and academic boards.
“UTAG’s considered assessment is that these governance failures have departed from the regulator’s enabling purpose and now undermine university autonomy, academic freedom, staff welfare, and the stability and competitiveness of Ghana’s public universities,” the statement said.
The association further cited what it described as systematic interference in internal university governance, including the imposition of approval requirements for appointments and post-retirement contracts, as well as the overriding of council decisions.
UTAG also raised concerns about directives issued in September and October 2025 on post-retirement engagements.
It argued that the directives contradict existing conditions of service and create administrative bottlenecks.
The group cautioned that the cumulative effect of these actions is heightened tension within the sector and potential reputational damage to Ghana’s higher education system.
UTAG is therefore calling on government to remove the GTEC leadership, withdraw the contentious directives, and ensure broader stakeholder consultation in regulatory processes.
