UDS Administrators protect GTEC Boss Prof. Abdulai against calls for removal
The University for Development Studies (UDS) Local Branch of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has formally declared its unequivocal support for Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai as Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
In a statement issued on Thursday, January 29, 2026, and signed by UDS-GAUA President Dr. Stephany A. Adongo, the association lauded Professor Jinapor’s leadership as principled, courageous, and transformative, emphasizing that his tenure has strengthened regulation, accountability, and governance within Ghana’s tertiary education sector.
As a professional body representing senior administrative and professional staff in public universities, GAUA noted that its members work closely with GTEC policies and are directly impacted by regulatory decisions. The association said Professor Jinapor’s leadership has provided clarity, consistency, and strict adherence to the law—qualities essential for effective institutional management.
GAUA stressed that GTEC’s mandate extends beyond routine administration, encompassing national development, quality assurance, and enhancing Ghana’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy. According to the association, the Director-General must balance academic freedom, institutional autonomy, fiscal discipline, and regulatory enforcement—a task Professor Jinapor has handled with distinction.
The association highlighted his firm action against unaccredited programmes and unauthorized distance learning courses, noting that such initiatives compromise educational quality, exploit students, and damage the international standing of Ghanaian degrees. GAUA credited GTEC’s vigilance under Professor Jinapor with protecting students and safeguarding academic standards.
GAUA also praised his intervention in matters of affordability and student welfare, referencing the January 5, 2026 directive to the University of Ghana to reverse a proposed 25 percent fee increase or face sanctions. The association said the action demonstrated GTEC’s commitment to access and equity, particularly for disadvantaged students, while balancing universities’ financial realities.
On governance, the association cited developments at the University of Cape Coast, noting that Professor Jinapor’s insistence on compliance with statutory provisions, including retirement age limits, restored stability and order. GAUA emphasized that enforcing the law should be seen as essential for predictability and effective administration, not as oppression.
The statement condemned attempts by certain groups within the tertiary sector to vilify Professor Jinapor for carrying out his legal mandate, warning that removing him now would undermine reforms, encourage mediocrity, and threaten the credibility of Ghana’s higher education system.
UDS-GAUA therefore formally endorsed Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai as GTEC Director-General, commending his record of principled and impactful leadership. The association urged the government, the President, and the Minister of Education to retain him in office, describing his experience and institutional knowledge as national assets.
The association also called on vice-chancellors, academic staff, students, and other stakeholders to engage constructively with GTEC through dialogue and respect for the rule of law, while reaffirming its commitment to collaborate with the commission to promote accountability, good governance, and excellence across Ghana’s universities.