A major governance dispute has erupted at the Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) following what many within the university community describe as an attempt by the Chairman of the Governing Council and a few members of Council to unlawfully terminate the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa.

Professor Afoakwa, who has served as Vice-Chancellor since March 2021, is currently under a contract that runs until 28th February 2029. The extension of his appointment was granted by the University Council in August 2024 after the successful completion of his first term. To honour this commitment, Professor Afoakwa reportedly proceeded on early retirement from the University of Ghana at age 55, after completing his four-year secondment and an additional one-year extension, in order to fully serve the remainder of his tenure at GCTU until 2029.

However, events took a dramatic turn when members of the Governing Council were invited to a meeting yesterday at 10:00 a.m., where it is alleged that the Council Chairman attempted to orchestrate the termination of the Vice-Chancellor’s appointment despite the subsisting contract.

Sources within the university indicate that the move was undertaken without adherence to due process and contrary to the provisions of the Ghana Communication Technology University Act, 2020 (Act 1022) and the University’s Statutes, which clearly outline the procedures required for disciplinary action or the removal of a Vice-Chancellor.

Since assuming office, the Council Chairman has reportedly been interfering in the day-to-day administration of the university, a responsibility that the GCTU Act vests in the Vice-Chancellor as the chief executive officer of the institution. Notably, despite several engagements with various state investigative agencies over recent months, no wrongdoing has been established against the Vice-Chancellor or his administration.

The situation reportedly escalated further yesterday evening when the Vice-Chancellor’s official vehicle was blocked at the main entrance of the Tesano campus, preventing him from leaving the premises. The incident created significant tension on campus and raised concerns about his personal safety. It took the intervention of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to restore calm and ensure that he was able to safely leave campus and return home to his family.

Observers within the university community have expressed concern that the actions of a few members of Council represent an attempt to undermine the autonomy and governance structures of the university, particularly given that Professor Afoakwa’s leadership has been widely associated with the institution’s growing national relevance and its strategic ambition to position GCTU as Ghana’s emerging Silicon Valley for digital innovation and technology education.

In response to the unfolding developments, the Vice-Chancellor has initiated legal action at the High Court in Accra, serving writs on the relevant parties to restrain what he describes as an unlawful attempt to remove him from office. The suit seeks to prevent interference with his employment and to allow the court to determine the legality of the actions taken.

The lawsuit argues that the purported termination of his appointment is unlawful, in breach of contract, and violates the principles of natural justice and fair hearing guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution and the GCTU Act.

Meanwhile, major stakeholders of the university — including the GCTU branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) — were reportedly not involved in the decision and have expressed strong concerns about the developments. Both associations have already communicated their displeasure to the Ministry of Education, calling for the urgent intervention of the Minister, strict adherence to due process, and the protection of the institutional integrity of the university.

Members of the university community have warned that the ongoing developments risk creating unnecessary instability within an institution that has, in recent years, recorded significant academic and institutional progress. As the matter now moves before the courts, many stakeholders are urging all parties to respect the rule of law and allow the judicial process to determine the legality of the actions taken. Further updates are expected as the situation unfolds.