The University Teachers’ Association of Ghana, University of Ghana Branch (UTAG-UG), has called for the immediate resignation of the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, and his Deputy, Prof. Augustine Ocloo, citing what it describes as persistent administrative overreach and failure to uphold the Commission’s statutory mandate.

In a statement issued at the University of Ghana, Legon, on January 19, 2026, UTAG-UG accused the leadership of GTEC of actions that have negatively affected public tertiary education institutions, contrary to the provisions of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).

According to UTAG-UG, although GTEC is mandated to ensure quality standards, promote equitable access, uphold transparent governance, and safeguard accountability in tertiary education, the Commission has “veered off” its core responsibilities.

The Association argued that GTEC has focused on peripheral matters while neglecting systemic challenges such as inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, low staff remuneration, and increasing workloads for lecturers.

UTAG-UG questioned GTEC’s silence on key issues, including student-to-lecturer ratios, infrastructure standards, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure quality education across public tertiary institutions.

The Association further accused GTEC of undermining institutional autonomy and good governance, alleging that the Commission has reversed decisions of legally constituted Governing Councils without clear legal authority.

UTAG-UG also questioned GTEC’s role in the removal of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, demanding clarification on the legal basis for such an intervention.

A major point of contention highlighted in the statement is a directive issued by GTEC on October 1, 2025, instructing lecturers to retire immediately upon attaining the age of 60, rather than at the end of the academic year under the rollover system.

UTAG-UG described the directive as disruptive to academic activities and an unconstitutional administrative overreach.

The Association also challenged a subsequent request by GTEC for submissions on post-retirement contracts, arguing that such contracts are conditions of service negotiated by the government and approved by Cabinet, and cannot be altered unilaterally.

UTAG-UG further criticised what it described as an adversarial leadership style at GTEC, saying it has led to low staff morale across public tertiary institutions.

The Association cited an incident involving an alleged increment in SRC and GRASAG levies at the University of Ghana, where GTEC threatened regulatory sanctions based on what later turned out to be a false media report.

Describing the situation as a pattern of “incompetent administration,” UTAG-UG warned that continued interference by GTEC threatens academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the long-term development of Ghana’s tertiary education system.

As part of its demands, UTAG-UG called on Prof. Jinapor Abdulai and Prof. Ocloo to resign honourably by January 31, 2026. The Association warned that failure to do so would result in a petition to the Chief of Staff for their removal and possible industrial action.

UTAG-UG also called for the immediate enactment of a Legislative Instrument to guide the implementation of Act 1023, to prevent what it termed future abuse of power by GTEC leadership.

The statement was signed by the President of UTAG-UG, Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison, and the Secretary, Dr. Godfred B. Hagan, who urged other UTAG branches and stakeholders to join the call to “restore sanity and hope” in Ghana’s public tertiary education institutions.