Prof Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai is Director-General of GTEC
The Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, has defended the Commission’s directive barring key management staff of public tertiary institutions from holding positions in political parties.
In a video sighted by GhanaWeb on August 18, 2026, he explained that the move seeks to protect the political neutrality and integrity of Ghana’s public tertiary education system and prevent institutional leadership from becoming entangled in partisan politics.
GTEC lists 62 unrecognised universities, colleges operating in Ghana and abroad
“Recently the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission issued a statement cautioning heads of public tertiary institutions to ensure that key management staff of such institutions do not hold elected political offices.
“That being vice chancellors, pro-vice chancellors, principals, vice principals, registrars, finance directors and other directors cannot put themselves forward to be elected as constituency party chairpersons and secretaries”, he remarked.
Prof Jinapor maintained that GTEC would stand by its position and take steps within the law to prevent senior management positions in tertiary institutions from being used for active partisan politics.
“We think it is unethical and immoral for Prof Samuel Awinkene Atintono to double as the NPP constituency chairman for Ododododio, and we will do everything within the law to ensure that our tertiary institutions, especially, and I stress especially, at the managerial level are not turned into party political theatre.
“I think we need it. Today, if you are principal and you are party executive and your party is in power, you enjoy. Tomorrow, if a new party comes they will tell you to go and there you will cry”, he added.
GTEC said the measures are necessary to safeguard political neutrality, impartiality and public confidence in the administration of public tertiary institutions.
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