UCC Crisis Deepens: VC's Lawyers Demand Withdrawal of GTEC's Suspension Directive
Accra,Ghana - UCC Vice-Chancellor's Lawyers Demand GTEC Withdraw Suspension Directive, Threaten Legal ActionLawyers for Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), have formally demanded that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) withdraw its directive suspending him from office. The directive, issued on September 19, 2025, cited Boampong's retirement age as the reason for the suspension.
The controversy surrounding Professor Boampong's tenure has been ongoing, with GTEC insisting that he should step down due to his age. However, Boampong's lawyers argue that the directive is unlawful and violates a subsisting court order. On October 8, 2024, the High Court granted an injunction restraining the University's Governing Council and other stakeholders from taking any action that may remove or suspend Professor Boampong until the final determination of the case.
GTEC's directive not only asks Professor Boampong to step aside but also suspends the processing of all major requests from UCC, including accreditation, government subventions, GETFund support, book and research allowances, and post-retirement contracts.
The Commission has given UCC until it complies with the directive and provides evidence of compliance.
In a letter dated September 19, 2025, Boampong's lawyers demanded that GTEC withdraw its directive, warning that failure to comply would lead to further legal action. They argued that GTEC's actions disregard a valid court order and contravene the Statutes of the University. The lawyers also pointed out that Ghana's Constitution allows individuals over 60 to hold public office under certain conditions, supporting their client's eligibility to remain in office.
The suspension has severe implications for UCC's operations, including blocked accreditation processes, government funding, research and book allowances, post-retirement contracts, and financial clearance for recruitment. The dispute between GTEC and UCC remains unresolved, with Professor Boampong's lawyers demanding that GTEC withdraw its directive.
The standoff between GTEC and UCC highlights the complexities surrounding the interpretation of retirement ages for public office holders in Ghana. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the parties involved will resolve the dispute and what implications it will have for UCC's operations and academic activities.
Below are details from Prof Boampong's lawyer, Dennis Adjei Dwomoh of Law Plus
Re: Stay in Office Post Compulsory Age
1. We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19th September 2025 and the content therein. Interestingly, the content of your letter is similar to the content of the letter unilaterally written by the former Chairman of the University, Prof. Harold S. Amonoo-Kuofi to purportedly dismiss our client from office via text message.
2. You are duly aware that the basis for your letter also happens to be the facts, which is the subject matter of the action currently pending before the High Court, Cape Coast in Suit No: E12/105/2-24 John Mevemeo vrs University of Cape Coast and Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong. On the 8th day of October, 2024 the High Court, granted the Injunction prayed and made an order that the University of Cape Coast, its Governing Council, the Chairman
of the Council, their Agents, Assigns, Privies, Workmen, Servants or their Appointors are RESTRAINED AND PROHIBITED from:
(i) discussing or deliberating any matter(s) relating to the REMOVAL of our client as the VICE-CHANCELLOR of the University of Cape Coast.
(ii) taking any decision that will SUSPEND, REVERSE, or SET ASIDE the APPOINTMENT of our client as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast.
(iii) interfering with the RENEWAL OF THE APPOINTMENT of our client as the VICE-CHANCELLOR of the University of Cape Coast until the final determination of the suit.
It is important to mention that your institution filed an application in the Supreme Court to quash the order of injunction in CIVIL MOTION NO: J5/7/2025, THE REPUBLIC VS HIGH COURT, CAPE COAST; EX PARTE GHANA TERTIARY EDUCATION COMMISSION (UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST and PROF. JOHNSON NYARKO BOAMPONG- Interested Parties). The Supreme Court on the 5th day of February 2025 dismissed your application.
We have attached copies of the ruling of the High Court and the Supreme Court just in case you have not read same and/or don’t have a copy of it although you have been informed of the content therein.
4. Interestingly, you failed to state that the Supreme Court rejected your argument of quoting Article 199(1) and leaving out Article 199(4) which empowers the state to employ or engage a person over sixty years of age, which was inserted per THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1996. To court displeasure for our client, you once again intentionally omitted to mention the rollover policy of the University, which is backed by the University Statutes. All of these arguments being raised
in your letter are the subject matter of the suit before the High Court, Cape Coast.
5. On the 27th day of August 2025, we wrote to the members of the new council of the University and placed you in copy. In the said letter we gave a detailed background of the instant action and the orders made therein.
6. It is therefore surprising that you have written a letter taking a decision that has SUSPENDED the APPOINTMENT of our client as Vice-Chancellor of the University. Apart from disrespecting the court orders, your actions also amount to side-stepping the Statutes of the University, and usurpation of the powers of the bodies of the University, and interference with the academic independence of the University.
7. Consequently, we have the directions of our client and, as officers of the court, respectfully demand you withdraw your letter dated 19th September 2025 and respect the orders of the court, failing which we have the firm
instructions of our client to take the necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of the court. In the meantime, our Client would ignore the said letter and continue to act in office as directed by the University Statutes and in accordance with the orders of the court.
Yours Sincerely,
Source – Lead News Online/Emmanuel Kofi Ahadzi
