GTEC directs UCC Vice-Chancellor to remain at post
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed that the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, should remain at post.
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"Giving that the university had previously communicated the appointment of Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong as Vice-Chancellor for a further term of two years to the commission.
"And there being no communication to the contrary from the Council of the University, Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong is to remain at post as Vice-Chancellor until the commission has examined the issues arising and communicates its position," a letter signed by the Director-General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, and addressed to the acting Registrar of UCC said.
Discussions
The letter, titled, “Matters arising concerning the office of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Coast,” said GTEC had followed "several discussions in the media regarding a purported termination of the appointment of Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong as Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, by the Chairman of the University Council, Prof. Harold Amoonoo-Kuofi.
"We further note that in these discussions, references have been made to letters, court processes and other publications by the Chairman of the Council and other persons, including some members of Council and management of the university," the letter said.
The letter directed the acting registrar of the university to furnish the Commission with all documents concerning the renewal and purported termination of the VC's appointment and all correspondences, court processes and communiques on the matter by Friday, August 9, 2024.
It reiterated its mandate to ensure that the management of the university was not interrupted.
Purported termination
Prof. Amoonoo-Kuofi on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, wrote a letter to the VC and copied the Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director of Finance of the university terminating the two-year extension contract granted the VC.
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Appointed for a four-year term in June 2020, Prof. Joshua Nyarko Boampong's first four-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor of UCC started on August 1, 2020 and ended on July 31, 2024.
On July 28, 2023, the university's Governing Council renewed and extended Prof. Nyarko Boampong's appointment as Vice-Chancellor at the Council's meeting, for a term of two years effective August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2026.
However, Prof. Amonoo-Kuofi stated that the renewal or extension "is void and consequently same is revoked as it breaches the University's Statutes on renewal of appointment of the Vice-Chancellor."
The reason given by the Council Chair was that Prof. Boampong would attain age 60 in 2025, and would, therefore, not be able to complete his two-year tenure before attaining the compulsory retirement age of 60 on September 18, 2025.
Rejection of purported termination
However, information available stated that on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the Governing Council met and the Vice-Chancellor's contract issue was not on the agenda and was not discussed.
The purported termination of the VC’s extended tenure of office as VC was challenged by seven members of the UCC Governing Council and the UCC branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).
Similarly, UTAG has also issued a statement dated August 1, 2024 challenging the "unilateral" decision by the council chair. “We call on the Chairman of the University Council to promptly withdraw the letter in question to prevent further confusion and disruption in the university.
“The unilateral actions of the Chairman are creating unnecessary turmoil and threaten the peace and stability of our academic environment,” the UCC branch of UTAG contended.