A deepening governance crisis has engulfed the Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) as leaked allegations point to a coordinated effort involving political power brokers, traditional authorities, education regulators, and national intelligence operatives. At the center of the storm is the attempted return of former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, whose reinstatement has become the focus of an intense institutional and political struggle.
Claims of High-Level Influence
According to leaked conversations and insider accounts, Prof. Afoakwa is alleged to have claimed access to powerful figures capable of securing his return. These claims include supposed directives from the Otumfuo to the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), political facilitation from the Presidency through the office of Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, and a symbolic May 4th date reportedly set for his triumphant return. Staff were allegedly encouraged to wear white to mark the occasion.
Intelligence Files Under Scrutiny
The controversy intensified with allegations that state security assessments from the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) may have been manipulated. Reviews of leaked documents reportedly reveal inconsistencies, conflicting timelines, and missing testimonies that raise questions about the integrity of the intelligence process. Despite ongoing legal disputes, Prof. Afoakwa is said to remain in possession of official university vehicles, allegedly citing backing from national security operatives. Insiders further claim that discussions were held about escorting him back onto campus under state protection.
CASS Degree Concerns and Regulatory Failures
The crisis has expanded to include questions about academic credential verification. GTEC formally notified GCTU that the CASS European Institute of Management Studies, a partner institution for some GCTU programs, is not recognized. Despite this, Prof. Afoakwa is alleged to have pushed for the removal of these programs from the “unrecognised” list to shield the university from reputational damage. The development has raised broader concerns, including scrutiny of high-profile graduates such as Hon. Freda Prempeh, whose Ph.D. was supervised by an individual linked to the disputed CASS qualifications.
Legal Barriers to Reinstatement
Official documents outline a clear legal obstacle to Prof. Afoakwa’s return. His service at GCTU was based on a secondment from the University of Ghana, which expired on February 28, 2026. He voluntarily retired from UG on the same date. With the retirement, the lien supporting his secondment automatically lapsed, rendering any appointment tied to that secondment legally void.
A National Test of Institutional Independence
Governance analysts describe the unfolding events as a critical test of Ghana’s public-sector integrity. The situation raises pressing questions about whether public universities can operate free from political interference and whether regulatory and intelligence bodies such as GTEC and the BNI can maintain independence under pressure. While all parties remain presumed innocent, calls for a comprehensive, independent forensic review of GCTU’s governance and financial decisions continue to intensify.
