UTAG-UG accuses GTEC of threatening academic freedom with faculty recruitment drive

The University Teachers’ Association of Ghana, University of Ghana Branch (UTAG-UG), has accused the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) of threatening academic freedom and the institutional autonomy of public higher education institutions through its decision to recruit teaching faculty on their behalf.

In a statement signed by Dr Jerry Joe Harrison, President of UTAG-UG, and Dr Godfred B. Hagan, Secretary of the association, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, UTAG-UG said it had taken note of an advertisement published by GTEC inviting applications from teaching faculty with terminal degrees to fill various positions at public higher education institutions, including the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), Technical Universities and Colleges of Education.

The association said although the initiative might appear to be an attempt by the regulator to assist institutions facing faculty recruitment challenges, it was concerned about the manner in which the recruitment process was being handled.

According to UTAG-UG, applicants were directed to submit their application letters, CVs and certificates directly to a GTEC official, Dr Francis Kwabena Afedoh, by September 30, 2026.

The association argued that the arrangement could create room for political interference in the recruitment of academic staff and potentially allow individuals with government loyalties or connections to be appointed outside the accountability mechanisms of the institutions concerned.

UTAG-UG described the move as an “unprecedented and dangerous overreach” into institutional self-governance, arguing that it violated constitutional guarantees of academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

“It places GTEC in a conflicting position of being both a player and a referee. This is completely unacceptable, not only because of the constitutional violations but also because GTEC lacks relevant subject-specific expertise to be able to do a good job,” the association said.

The association further accused GTEC’s leadership of failing to address what it considers the more pressing challenges affecting the quality of higher education, particularly issues relating to remuneration and outstanding payments to academic staff.

It cited the non-payment of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance (BRA) and outstanding promotion arrears, warning that tensions on university campuses were reaching a critical point, with industrial action being actively discussed.

UTAG-UG said the faculty recruitment initiative was part of what it described as a troubling pattern by GTEC’s current leadership to expand its control over public universities beyond its regulatory mandate.

The association linked the development to the previously rejected Public Universities Bill (PUB), which it said was overwhelmingly opposed by UTAG and would continue to resist whenever similar measures emerged.

“We therefore call on the Government to demonstrate its unwillingness to meddle in the governance of public higher education institutions and its disposition towards upholding academic freedom, as it has publicly touted many times, by calling GTEC to order,” UTAG-UG stated.

It maintained that every institution of higher learning had the capacity to identify and recruit suitable candidates for academic positions through its own governance structures.

The association therefore warned GTEC against extending its regulatory powers into what it described as the micromanagement of public higher education institutions.

“GTEC's regulatory powers must not extend into micromanagement of public higher education institutions. Any efforts to extend this reach will be strongly resisted,” it said.