The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has called for the immediate removal of the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, and his deputy, Prof. Augustine Ocloo, accusing the leadership of regulatory overreach and unilateral decision-making in the management of tertiary education institutions.
UTAG has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government, warning of possible industrial action if its demands are not met. The association made the demand in a petition to the President, arguing that the current leadership of GTEC has adopted what it describes as a coercive administrative style that undermines stakeholder consultation and academic autonomy.
At a press briefing in Accra, UTAG National President, Prof. Vera Fiador, said the association was calling for a reset of the regulatory approach within the tertiary education sector.
“UTAG respectfully calls on the President for the following reliefs. The Director-General and Deputy Director-General of GTEC must be relieved of their current roles in order to restore confidence in the tertiary education sector and reset regulatory posture,” she stated.
She further urged government to fully operationalize the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) through a clear Legislative Instrument that ensures consultative rule-making, limits interference in institutional governance, and establishes a transparent appeals mechanism for regulatory decisions.
UTAG also demanded the immediate withdrawal of GTEC circulars issued on 30 September and 1 October 2025, which the association claims have contributed to tensions within the sector. The union is calling for stakeholder engagement to harmonize the directives with existing legal frameworks and negotiated conditions of service.
Adding to the pressure, President of the University of Ghana chapter of UTAG, Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison, warned that members could withdraw their services to GTEC if their concerns are not addressed.
“We have several tools at our disposal, including withdrawing all services that we render to GTEC. Of course, to the extreme, industrial disharmony can be activated because if members of UTAG are not happy doing the jobs they are supposed to do, there is no point remaining in the classroom,” he said.
The developments signal rising tensions between university lecturers and the tertiary education regulator, with UTAG insisting that urgent reforms are needed to restore trust and stability in the sector.
