By: Joseph Mensah Oti-Asirifi
The Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G) have issued a formal statement urging a balanced approach between regulatory oversight and institutional autonomy within the country’s tertiary education sector.
In a statement released by its Permanent Secretariat at Accra Technical University, the VCTU-G said recent developments and public debate surrounding the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) have raised concerns about how regulatory authority should interact with the independence of public universities.
The statement follows recent calls for the resignation of the Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, and his deputy, Prof. Augustine Ocloo, as well as opposing views defending the legitimacy of the Commission’s regulatory mandate.
According to the Vice-Chancellors, the situation requires careful reflection and constructive engagement among stakeholders. VCTU-G emphasized that the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) gives GTEC clear statutory responsibility for regulation and oversight in the tertiary education sector.
However, it also noted that public universities — including technical universities — are established by individual Acts of Parliament that guarantee their institutional autonomy and grant authority to their governing councils, academic boards, and management structures.
The group stressed that while it strongly supports institutional autonomy, such independence is not absolute. It explained that autonomy must operate within national legal and regulatory frameworks designed to ensure accountability, checks and balances, and alignment with the broader national interest.
VCTU-G said governing councils have the discretion to manage internal affairs and direct their institutions in accordance with their statutes, but this should coexist with lawful regulatory supervision.
The Vice-Chancellors indicated that maintaining both effective oversight and institutional independence is essential for the stability and progress of Ghana’s tertiary education system.
VCTU-G Calls for Dialogue, Urges End to Threats in Tertiary Education Dispute
The Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCTU-G) has called for calm and sustained dialogue among stakeholders in the country’s tertiary education sector, warning that confrontational actions and public threats risk destabilising the system.
In a statement issued on February 4, 2026, the group acknowledged that staff, unions and other stakeholders within the tertiary education space have legitimate concerns regarding governance, conditions of service and the overall health of the sector.
However, it stressed that such concerns should be addressed through structured engagement rather than adversarial actions.
According to the VCTU-G, sustained dialogue and organised engagement remain the most appropriate means of resolving disputes, instead of measures that could heighten tensions and disrupt academic administration.
The statement referenced recent adversarial encounters and public threats directed at the leadership of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), cautioning against further escalation.
The Vice Chancellors urged all parties to withdraw threats and reduce tensions, emphasising that collective responsibility should guide interactions among regulators, university authorities and organised labour groups. It noted that confrontation and head-on clashes are not a constructive path forward for the sector.
The group further highlighted the need for a stable, predictable and secure operating environment within public tertiary institutions to support Ghana’s ongoing national reset agenda and institutional reforms. It added that cooperation and adherence to established institutional processes would better position universities to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Statement Below;
