Governance, Accountability and Transparency Forum (GATF), an education advocacy group, has thrown its weight behind the University of Ghana branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG) in demanding the immediate removal of Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai as Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

The Governance, Accountability and Transparency Forum (GATF), in a press statement dated January 21, 2026, accused Prof. Jinapor Abdulai of "regulatory failure," "abuse of office," and providing cover for deep-seated governance issues, particularly at the Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU).

“This is no longer an internal university dispute… It is now a matter of national institutional integrity, public trust, and the future of Ghana's higher education system,” the group stated, calling for urgent presidential intervention.

Alleged Conflict of Interest and Questionable Doctorate

At the core of the fresh allegations is what GATF describes as Prof. Jinapor Abdulai's failure to act on a "widely documented" case involving his alleged close associate, Ms Vera Graham Asante, a senior administrator at GCTU.

The group claims Ms Asante acquired a doctorate in 2021 from the Swiss Management Centre University, an institution it says was not accredited by GTEC. Despite a formal petition and evidence submitted to GTEC, the regulator under Prof. Jinapor Abdulai has neither sanctioned nor made a public determination on the matter.

GATF alleges that Prof. Jinapor Abdulai has administratively treated the degree as a "PhD equivalent," a move they label a "dangerous abuse of office" that distorts academic standards.

Buried Audit Report and Unilateral Appointments

The statement also revisits the alleged suppression of a critical audit report on GCTU. It notes that the audit, conducted by a GTEC team led by Deputy Director-General Prof. Augustine Ocloo, has never been published or acted upon, raising questions about what it may have uncovered.

Furthermore, GATF challenges the legitimacy of the current Vice-Chancellor of GCTU, alleging that his continued tenure relies on the "active support" of Prof. Jinapor Abdulai, who they claim unilaterally extended a secondment that should require ministerial or presidential approval.

Broader Pattern and National Implications

GATF argues that the GCTU situation is symptomatic of a wider breakdown at GTEC, which it says has become a centre for "selective enforcement" and "political or personal power-brokering."

The group warned that the perceived regulatory decay threatens Ghana's international academic reputation, jeopardising student mobility, research collaborations, and the global recognition of Ghanaian degrees.

This latest statement amplifies the pressure from UTAG-UG, which has been vocal in its criticisms of GTEC's leadership.

As of now, GTEC has not officially responded to the specific allegations raised in GATF's latest statement.