The University Teachers’ Association of Ghana, University of Ghana Branch (UTAG-UG), has accused the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) of overstepping its regulatory mandate and violating constitutional guarantees of academic freedom and institutional autonomy.
In a press release dated September 9, 2026, UTAG-UG said it has taken note of an advertisement published on GTEC’s website captioned “CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: TEACHING FACULTY WITH TERMINAL DEGREES” seeking applicants to fill positions in various public higher education institutions, including the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), Wa, Technical Universities and Colleges of Education.
According to UTAG-UG, the advertisement directs interested applicants to submit soft copy applications to Dr. Francis Kwabena Afedoh via [email protected] on or before Friday, September 30, 2026.
While the initiative may on the surface appear as an attempt to help institutions facing faculty recruitment challenges, UTAG-UG says it amounts to GTEC recruiting faculty for public universities itself.
Dangerous pathway for political interference
The Association warned that the arrangement creates a dangerous pathway for political interference.
“GTEC could recruit into these institutions individuals with government loyalties or cronies who would be insulated from institutional accountability mechanisms. Such appointees could undermine the independence universities require to fulfil their Teaching and Research mandates,” the statement said.
UTAG-UG described the move as “unprecedented and dangerous overreach in institutional self-governance” that violates academic freedom and institutional autonomy enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
“It places GTEC in a conflicting position of being both a player and a referee. This is completely unacceptable, not only because of the constitutional violations but also because GTEC lacks relevant subject-specific expertise to be able to do a good job,” the Association stated.
GTEC ignoring core issues – UTAG-UG
UTAG-UG also accused GTEC of ignoring pressing issues affecting quality of higher education, including remuneration.
“Campuses are currently boiling with tension at its crescendo and industrial action being actively discussed because of nonpayment of this year’s Book and Research Allowance (BRA) and other outstanding promotion arrears. Yet, the regulator is quiet,” the release noted.
The Association said the current action continues a troubling pattern by GTEC’s current leadership to expand control over public universities beyond its regulatory mandate.
“These are remnants of the infamous Public Universities Bill (PUB) that was overwhelmingly rejected by UTAG and will be vehemently opposed every time it rears its ugly head,” it said.
UTAG-UG has therefore called on Government to call GTEC to order to demonstrate its commitment to upholding academic freedom.
“Every institution of higher learning has the capacity to determine the best candidates to fill academic positions and should be allowed to do so under its governance structures. GTEC’s regulatory powers must not extend into micromanagement of public higher education institutions. Any efforts to extend this reach will be strongly resisted,” the statement concluded.
The release was signed by Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison, President, and Dr. Godfred B. Hagan, Secretary of UTAG-UG.
