In a dramatic escalation of a leadership dispute at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has slammed the brakes on all major administrative requests from the university, citing non-compliance with a directive over the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure.
In a sternly worded letter dated Monday, September 22, 2025, GTEC notified UCC’s Registrar that it would no longer process requests related to accreditation, government subventions, GETFund support, research allowances, recruitment clearance, and more — essentially paralyzing the institution’s operations until further notice.
At the center of the standoff is Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, who continues to occupy the Vice-Chancellor’s office despite reaching the statutory retirement age of 60 — and despite a High Court injunction issued nearly a year ago restraining UCC’s Governing Council from making decisions regarding his appointment.
GTEC's message was blunt: comply, or face the consequences.
“This suspension takes immediate effect,” the letter read, “and will remain in force until full compliance with the Commission’s directive is demonstrated.”
Signed by Prof. Augustine Ocloo, Acting Deputy Director-General, the letter underscores growing frustration within the Commission over UCC’s handling of the situation — and reflects what insiders say is a deepening governance crisis at one of Ghana’s top public universities.
In a move that raised eyebrows across the academic community, GTEC also appeared to delist UCC from its website entirely — a symbolic but bold move that suggests the university has, in effect, been erased from the public tertiary education landscape, at least for now.
Last week, GTEC directed Prof. Boampong to vacate his post immediately, citing clear legal and statutory grounds. Referencing both the University of Cape Coast Act (PNDCL 278) and the university’s 2016 Statutes, the Commission argued that the Vice-Chancellor’s position — a public office — is subject to Ghana’s constitutional retirement provisions under Article 199(1), which mandates compulsory retirement at age 60.
Prof. Boampong, who completed his first four-year term and began a second in 2024, has now passed the mandatory retirement threshold — something GTEC says renders his continued stay in office not just inappropriate, but unlawful.
While the case is still winding its way through the Cape Coast High Court, GTEC has taken preemptive action to prevent what it called "further institutional uncertainty." The Commission has instructed that the UCC Governing Council refrain from appointing a new substantive Vice-Chancellor until the legal dust settles.
In the meantime, GTEC has tapped UCC’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, to act as Vice-Chancellor — a move that may add another layer of complexity to the university’s leadership dynamic.
The suspension marks a rare, high-stakes clash between a regulatory body and a major public university — one that could have ripple effects on students, faculty, and Ghana’s broader higher education sector.
What’s Next?
With its funding channels blocked and legal legitimacy questioned, UCC now finds itself in uncharted territory. The bigger question is whether the institution will comply, fight back, or wait out the court proceedings — all while its students and staff remain caught in the middle of an administrative standoff that shows no signs of cooling off.
