GTEC Orders UCC Vice-Chancellor to Vacate Office Over Retirement Age

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong to step down as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), citing his continued stay in office beyond the compulsory retirement age of 60.

In a letter dated Friday, September 19, 2025, GTEC stated that Prof. Boampong’s tenure contravenes Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires public officers to retire at age 60 unless otherwise provided.

“The Office of the Vice-Chancellor, being an office established under Section 7(1) of the University of Cape Coast Act, 1992 (PNDCL 278), is a public office under the meaning and intendment of Article 199(1). Hence, anyone acting in the office of the Vice-Chancellor is presumptively mandated to proceed on compulsory retirement upon attaining 60 years,” the Commission noted.

GTEC further referenced the UCC Statutes (2016), which limit the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure to an initial four years, renewable for an additional three years, provided the statutory retirement age is not exceeded.

In the interim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto has been asked to act as Vice-Chancellor.

The Commission acknowledged that the matter is currently before the Cape Coast High Court and has directed the UCC Governing Council to suspend the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor until the court delivers its ruling.

For more details, see related coverage on ModernGhana and Citi News Room.

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