By Eugene Davis
The University Teachers Association of Ghana has called on the President to relieve the Director-General and Deputy Director-General of GTEC of their duties, arguing that a leadership reset is needed to restore confidence in the country’s tertiary education system.
Speaking in Accra, UTAG’s national president, Prof. Vera Ogeh Fiador
, said the association’s position follows a petition to the Presidency raising concerns over what it describes as a pattern of regulatory overreach and unilateral decision-making by the commission.
At the centre of the dispute is UTAG’s claim that GTEC has moved beyond its mandate as a standards-setting body and begun to intrude into the internal governance of universities. The association argues that such actions risk undermining institutional autonomy, academic freedom and established conditions of service.
UTAG is pressing for the withdrawal of recent directives affecting post-retirement contracts and administrative processes, insisting these should be subjected to broader consultation and aligned with existing legal frameworks.
It is also calling for the full operationalisation of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act through a clear legislative instrument, with defined limits on regulatory intervention and a transparent appeals process.
The association maintains that current practices have strained labour relations, disrupted administrative processes, and created uncertainty across campuses. It points to instances where regulatory actions have affected core university functions, warning of wider reputational risks for Ghana’s higher education system, particularly in its dealings with international partners.
UTAG further expressed frustration over the lack of formal acknowledgement of its petition, suggesting this has deepened concerns about responsiveness at the highest levels of government.
While reiterating its commitment to dialogue, the association signalled a possible escalation, serving notice that if its demands are not addressed within fourteen days, it will, after consulting its membership, “advise itself accordingly”.
The standoff highlights a broader tension over the balance between regulation and institutional independence in Ghana’s public universities.
Prof. Vera Ogeh Fiador (middle)makes an address
.
