The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has given the government a 14-day deadline to remove the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, along with his deputy, Prof. Augustine Ocloo.
In a formal petition addressed to the President, UTAG accused the leadership of GTEC of overstepping its regulatory mandate, issuing directives without adequate consultation, and adopting what the association describes as a coercive administrative approach.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, UTAG National President, Prof. Vera Fiador, emphasized the need for immediate action to restore trust within the tertiary education sector. She also called for the withdrawal of GTEC’s controversial circular dated September 30, 2025, which led to the disaccreditation of some institutions.
According to her, the association is demanding a reset in how the sector is regulated. She urged government to fully operationalize the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) through a clear Legislative Instrument that ensures stakeholder consultation, defines limits to regulatory interference in institutional governance, and establishes a transparent appeals process.
Prof. Fiador stressed that the current directives issued by GTEC should be withdrawn and reviewed through broader engagement with stakeholders to ensure alignment with existing laws and agreed conditions of service.
Meanwhile, UTAG’s University of Ghana chapter president, Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison, warned that the association is prepared to escalate its response if the concerns are not addressed within the given timeframe.
He indicated that UTAG could withdraw all services it provides to GTEC and may resort to industrial action if necessary. According to him, dissatisfaction among lecturers directly affects not only their work but also the quality of education delivered to students.
