The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has taken drastic action against the University of Cape Coast (UCC), blocking all government-related support and services to the institution, and designating it as “non-existent” on its official portal.

In a statement issued on Monday, GTEC announced the immediate suspension of all major engagements with UCC, citing the university’s failure to comply with directives regarding the tenure of its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong.

The September 22 decision stems from UCC’s disregard for a High Court injunction issued on 8th October 2024, which restrains the university’s Governing Council from taking any action on Prof. Boampong’s appointment.

Despite the injunction and despite having reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 Prof. Boampong has reportedly remained in office.

As a result, GTEC says it will no longer process any of UCC’s requests for:

• Programme accreditation
• Government salary subventions
• GETFund disbursements
• Research and book allowances
• Post-retirement contracts
• Financial clearance for recruitment
• And other related administrative matters

The directive, signed by Prof. Augustine Ocloo, Acting Deputy Director-General of GTEC, is to remain in effect until UCC proves full compliance with the Commission’s orders.

GTEC had last week instructed Prof. Boampong to step down, arguing that the Vice-Chancellor role is a public office under Section 7(1) of the University of Cape Coast Act, 1992 (PNDCL 278) and, as such, is subject to Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates retirement at age 60.

The Commission also cited the UCC Statutes (2016), which permit a Vice-Chancellor to serve a four-year term, renewable for another three years only if the individual has not exceeded the retirement age.

Pending the resolution of the legal dispute currently before the Cape Coast High Court, GTEC has appointed Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, the university’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor, to serve as Acting Vice-Chancellor.