A Senior Lecturer and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr. Elijah Tukwariba Yin, has filed a lawsuit against the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) following its directive for the Vice Chancellor, Professor Johnson Boampong, to step aside after reaching the compulsory retirement age of 60.
The Commission, in a statement dated September 19, 2025, directed Prof. Boampong proceeded on retirement, insisting that his continued stay in office violated Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires holders of public office to retire at 60.
It maintained that the Vice Chancellor’s position falls under this category, as outlined in the University of Cape Coast Act, 1992 (PNDCL 278) and ordered the university’s Governing Council to appoint Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Dennis Aheto, as Acting Vice Chancellor until the Cape Coast High Court rules on the matter.
However, UCC insisted that the Vice Chancellor’s continued stay was consistent with its internal statutes and governance framework, and failed to comply with GTEC’s directive, risking further action – including withdrawal of staff salaries and other forms of support.
As the disagreement escalated, GTEC followed through with its threat and delisted UCC from its portal of accredited tertiary institutions. It also blocked government subventions meant for the university, a move that sparked widespread concern among students, staff, and other stakeholders.
This prompted Dr. Yin, who initiated the legal action in his personal capacity against the Commission. He contended that GTEC overstepped its mandate and interfered unlawfully in the governance of the university.
He argued that only the UCC Governing Council held the authority to remove a Vice Chancellor and said Prof. Boampong had been denied a fair hearing in the process.
In his suit, he also alleged that GTEC’s directive breached a subsisting High Court injunction and accused the Commission of accompanying its orders with arbitrary threats and unlawful withholding of statutory services.
Dr. Yin maintained that “citizens are duty-bound to intervene when public institutions abuse their powers,” further arguing that he himself stands to suffer the consequences of the Commission’s actions and inactions, making his intervention necessary.
Among his reliefs, Dr Yin sought a declaration voiding GTEC’s letters removing Prof. Boampong, appointing an acting Vice Chancellor, and withdrawing services to the university.
He further prayed for an order quashing the directive that compelled Prof. Boampong to step down, an injunction restraining GTEC from further interference, and an order compelling the Commission to process UCC’s lawful requests.
The suit also asked the court to bar Prof. Dennis Aheto from acting as Vice Chancellor. The High Court in Cape Coast is expected to hear the matter in the coming weeks.
GTEC Restores Accreditation After Standoff
Meanwhile, GTEC has restored the accreditation status of the University of Cape Coast after weeks of tension over the Vice Chancellor’s retirement dispute.
In a recent statement by its Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, 2025, the Commission confirmed that the sanctions had been lifted following the submission of evidence by the UCC Registrar, coupled with Prof. Boampong’s decision to contest the matter in court.
“Following the evidence provided by the Registrar of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), complying with the directive issued by GTEC on September 19, 2025, as well as Prof. Johnson Boampong taking up the case in court, GTEC, with immediate effect, restores all services that were earlier withdrawn to UCC”
GTEC
It further confirmed that UCC had been reinstated on its website as a fully accredited institution.
The restoration of accreditation has brought relief to students, lecturers, and staff of UCC who had been anxious about the potential impact of the standoff on the university’s operations and reputation.
Many had expressed fears that the withdrawal of accreditation could disrupt academic programmes and affect the standing of one of Ghana’s leading tertiary institutions. While the Commission’s decision to restore services provides temporary calm, the legal battle initiated by Dr. Yin ensures that the fate of Prof. Boampong’s tenure remains unresolved.
The coming weeks are expected to determine whether the courts will uphold GTEC’s directive or affirm the authority of the UCC Governing Council in matters of internal governance.
