The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has once again made headlines with its latest action against the University of Cape Coast (UCC) concerning its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong.

The Commission’s action stems from its directive to the institution’s Vice-Chancellor to proceed on compulsory retirement, which the school appears to have defied.

EXPLAINER: Understanding the mandate of GTEC

This GhanaWeb article chronicles all the events that have transpired between the two bodies, from how it began to the latest action taken.

Retirement Directive

In a letter dated Friday, September 19, 2025, GTEC cited Prof Boampong for his attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60 as stipulated under Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution; adding that his continued tenure violates constitutional provisions for public officers.

“Article 199(1) stipulates that a public officer shall, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, retire from the public service on attaining the age of sixty years,” the letter read.

It further noted that the Vice-Chancellor’s office, established under Section 7(1) of the University of Cape Coast Act, 1992 (PNDCL 278), qualifies as a public office, mandating retirement at 60 years.

GTEC referenced the UCC Statutes (2016), which limit the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure to an initial four years, renewable for three additional years, provided the statutory retirement age is not exceeded.

GTEC Appoints Replacement

The Commission also in its Friday, September 19, 2025, letter added that it has appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Denis Worlanyo Aheto to act as Vice-Chancellor, in line with its regulatory authority under Section 7 of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act (Act 1023).

Acknowledging that the matter is before the Cape Coast High Court, GTEC instructed the Chairman of the UCC Governing Council to defer appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellor until the court’s final determination.

Vice Chancellor Fights Back

Prof Nyarko Boampong has in turn rejected GTEC’s directive insisting that he remains in office with the backing of court orders, according to a report by gbcghanaonline.com on September 23, 2025.

According to the news portal, Prof Boampong in a strongly worded response dated September 19, 2025, and signed by his lawyer, Dennis Adjei Dwomoh of Law Plus Firm, said he would “ignore the said letter and continue to act in office as directed by the University Statutes and in accordance with the orders of the court.”

His lawyers cited a 2024 High Court injunction in Cape Coast which barred the university and its council from removing him, suspending him, or interfering with his reappointment until a pending case is concluded. They also referenced a February 2025 Supreme Court ruling that dismissed GTEC’s attempt to overturn the injunction.

GTEC’s Sanctions on UCC

Following Prof Boampong’s defiance of GTEC’s directive, the Commission has escalated the matter by imposing sanctions on the institution including a halt on processing any requests from the university, including those related to accreditation, salaries, GETFund support, book and research allowances, and other essential approvals.

"The Commission is compelled to issue this directive due to the fact that the Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has been restrained by an injunction of the High Court, Cape Coast, since 8th October 2024, from taking any action on Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong's appointment as Vice-Chancellor.

"Accordingly, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) will, with immediate effect, not process any request from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in respect of the following until there is full compliance with the directive and evidence of compliance is furnished to the Commission," the Commission in a September 22, 2025, statement read.

UCC Declared ‘Non-Existent’

According to myjoyonline.com on September 22, 2025, GTEC has equally designated it as “non-existent” on its official portal, blocking all government-related support and services to the institution.

UTAG-UCC Reacts to GTEC’s Sanctions

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), University of Cape Coast (UCC) chapter, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to reverse sanctions imposed on the university.

In a report by adomonline.com on September 23, 2025, UTAG-UCC Secretary, Dr Isaac Boabeng, demanded that GTEC immediately withdraws its directive and issue a formal apology by Friday, September 26, 2025.

He warned that failure to comply would trigger mass protests.

“If GTEC fails to act, we will march to Accra. They should come and lock the University of Cape Coast and take the keys to Accra. GTEC and Professor Okloh must understand that there are laws in this country,” Dr Boabeng fumed.

Reverse sanctions against UCC in 48 hours or face mass protests – UTAG warns GTEC

Describing the sanctions as ‘unlawful, unjustifiable, and a direct attack on the dignity and livelihoods of staff,’ Dr Boabeng stressed that the action undermines the legal and institutional framework governing tertiary education in Ghana.

He further warned that withholding salaries as part of the punitive measures would amount to what he called a ‘criminal and reckless’ act against workers of the university.

MAG/VPO

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