Amid the leadership controversy at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) says it maintains its recognition of the embattled Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong as the Vice Chancellor of UCC.
This stance by GTEC follows the decision by the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council to terminate the Vice Chancellor’s appointment, citing procedural breaches and mandatory retirement age issues as reasons.
The letter, signed by the Council’s Chairman, Prof. Harold Amonoo-Kuofi, directed the Vice Chancellor to hand over his office and all personal effects to the Pro-Vice Chancellor immediately upon receipt of the letter. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor was to act in that capacity until a substantive VC is appointed, the letter noted.
The letter, which went viral, has generated mixed reactions from the general public and some stakeholders within the University. The latest to react is the Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Abudulai Ahmed Jinapor, who insists that the Commission still considers Prof. Nyarko Boampong as the Vice Chancellor of the University, despite the Council Chairman’s letter.
“Currently, as a Commission, we still recognize the Vice Chancellor as the Vice Chancellor of the University until otherwise determined,” declared Prof. Ahmed Jinapor.
The Director-General of the Commission, mandated by law to regulate tertiary education in Ghana, further called for calm among all factions, adding that the situation will be resolved amicably.
“Cool heads must prevail. I think this is also a lesson for us in terms of how we approach some of these things. If you look at the letter of the Council Chairman, it sounds too militaristic. That he should hand over immediately, I think that even if the Vice Chancellor is supposed to be out of office, we are talking about a Vice-Chancellor or the Chief Executive Officer of one of the most important universities in this country – the University of Cape Coast.”
“And if the person is even asked to step aside, you cannot say ‘immediately’. When you say ‘immediately’, it’s a little bit worrying. That notwithstanding, there is no cause for alarm. This problem is going to be solved,” he added.
