The University Teachers’ Association of Ghana, University of Ghana Branch (UTAG-UG), has intensified pressure on the leadership of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), warning of possible industrial action unless sweeping changes are made at the regulatory body.
In a strongly worded statement issued at Legon on January 19, 2026, the Association accused the Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, and his Deputy, Prof. Augustine Ocloo, of presiding over what it described as sustained administrative overreach that is undermining public tertiary education.
UTAG-UG argued that rather than focusing on its core mandate under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), GTEC has engaged in actions that weaken institutional autonomy and disrupt academic stability across universities.
The Association expressed concern that critical sector-wide challenges—such as inadequate funding, deteriorating infrastructure, poor staff remuneration and rising lecturer workloads—have received little attention from the Commission, despite their direct impact on teaching and learning quality.
It further criticised GTEC’s interventions in governance matters, alleging that the Commission has overturned decisions of properly constituted university Governing Councils without clear legal justification, a move UTAG-UG says threatens good governance in public universities.
One of the most contentious issues raised was a GTEC directive issued on October 1, 2025, requiring lecturers to retire immediately upon reaching the age of 60. UTAG-UG described the directive as disruptive to academic planning and inconsistent with established rollover arrangements that allow retirement at the end of the academic year.
The Association also faulted GTEC for attempting to interfere in post-retirement contract arrangements, insisting that such matters fall under negotiated conditions of service approved by Cabinet, not unilateral regulatory directives.
UTAG-UG cited additional concerns over what it described as an adversarial leadership approach at GTEC, which it says has contributed to declining morale among staff in public tertiary institutions. It referenced an incident at the University of Ghana where GTEC allegedly threatened sanctions over SRC and GRASAG levy increments based on a media report later found to be inaccurate.
Describing these developments as part of a broader pattern of poor administration, UTAG-UG warned that continued interference by GTEC could erode academic freedom and weaken the long-term development of Ghana’s tertiary education system.
The Association has given Prof. Jinapor Abdulai and Prof. Ocloo until January 31, 2026, to resign, warning that failure to do so would trigger a petition to the Chief of Staff and possible industrial action. It also renewed calls for the urgent passage of a Legislative Instrument to guide the implementation of Act 1023 and prevent future regulatory abuses.
The statement was signed by UTAG-UG President, Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison, and Secretary, Dr. Godfred B. Hagan, who called on other UTAG branches and stakeholders to support efforts to “restore sanity and confidence” in Ghana’s public tertiary education sector.
