Accra, Ghana — January 22, 2026
Ghana’s tertiary education sector has been thrust into a national crisis as the Governance, Accountability and Transparency Forum (GATF) issues a blistering call for a full, independent, and forensic investigation into the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). The group alleges entrenched corruption, selective regulation, intimidation of students, and the protection of unqualified officials—accusations they describe as a “national emergency in the governance of higher education.”
The statement, endorsed by senior academics and governance advocates, aligns with the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG)’s demand for the removal of GTEC’s leadership.
A Regulator in Crisis
According to GATF, mounting evidence from universities across the country points to a pattern of regulatory compromise, bribery, and deliberate inaction. Institutions allegedly continue to run unaccredited programmes for years, issue questionable degrees, and operate with impunity—while GTEC looks away.
The group argues that the victims of this regulatory collapse are not the institutions, but students, who have no role in accreditation decisions yet face the consequences when programmes are later declared invalid.
GCTU at the Center of the Storm
The Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) is cited as the most alarming example of alleged regulatory protectionism. Under the leadership of its Vice-Chancellor—whose secondment was reportedly extended without presidential or ministerial approval—GCTU is accused of:
- Illegal financial demands on students
- Administrative abuse
- Running unaccredited programmes
- Appointing unqualified Heads of Department and Deans
- Manipulating promotions using fake or retracted publications
Despite multiple petitions from staff and students, GATF says GTEC has taken no meaningful action.
Even more troubling, the group alleges that GTEC Director-General Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai has personally facilitated special programmes at GCTU, raising serious conflict-of-interest concerns.
Suppressed Audit Report Raises Red Flags
A GTEC audit team led by Deputy Director-General Prof. Augustine Ocloo reportedly completed a full investigation into GCTU—but the findings have never been released. GATF claims the report was buried to shield senior officials implicated in irregular promotions and governance breaches.
The group describes this as “regulatory endorsement of illegality.”
Selective Enforcement and Alleged Extortion
GATF outlines a pattern of selective enforcement, where some universities face aggressive sanctions while others,particularly GCTU, receive quiet protection. This, they argue, has created a widespread perception that accreditation decisions are influenced by access, inducement, or political alignment, not academic standards.
The statement warns that accreditation has become a tool of pressure and control, fostering a climate of fear among university leaders, staff, and students.
Intimidation of Students
Perhaps the most explosive allegation is that Prof. Jinapor Abdulai personally warned student leaders at GCTU to stop exposing misconduct or face academic consequences. GATF describes this as “coercion, abuse of power, and an assault on academic freedom.”
A System “Captured and Compromised”
The group concludes that the evidence points not to isolated failures but to a systemic pattern of regulatory capture, including:
- Buried audit reports
- Illegal appointments
- Ignored petitions
- Protected misconduct
- Manipulated promotions
- Intimidation of students
- A weakened GTEC Board
“This is not regulatory failure,” the statement declares. “It is regulatory capture and abuse of power.”
Demands for Immediate Action
GATF is calling for:
- Immediate removal or resignation of GTEC leadership
- A full forensic investigation into accreditation decisions, sanctions, and alleged inducements
- Publication of all suppressed audit reports, including the GCTU audit
- A sector-wide review of all accreditations issued under the current leadership
- Protection and remediation for affected students
- Sanctions against culpable institutional leaders—not students
The group has also issued a direct appeal to the President, Vice President, Parliament, and state investigative bodies to treat the matter as a national emergency.
A Warning to the Nation
GATF states that if decisive action is not taken, it will release further documentary evidence and institution-specific case files both locally and internationally.
“Ghana’s universities are national assets, not private fiefdoms,” the statement concludes. “The time to act is now.”
Read Details of the press Statement below :
Source: Governance, Accountability and Transparency (GAT) Forum
