A brewing leadership crisis at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has sparked a petition to President John Dramani Mahama, urging his intervention to enforce the mandatory retirement of Vice-Chancellor Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, who turns 60 on September 18, 2025.
Petition Alleges Constitutional Breach
According to the petition, Prof Boampong’s tenure was extended by two years, allowing him to stay in office until July 31, 2026.
This extension, the petitioners argue, violates Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which sets the mandatory retirement age for public servants at 60, a provision that includes staff and faculty of public universities.
Quoting a communication from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the petition stressed: “The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana is unambiguous on the retirement age of public servants (60 years), of which staff and faculty of public universities are not exempted.”
The petitioners contend that by allowing Prof Boampong to remain in office past this age, the university is setting a dangerous precedent that undermines constitutional compliance.
Claims of Selective Enforcement by GTEC
The group accused GTEC of displaying what they termed “profound hypocrisy” by enforcing the retirement age selectively.
They cited past cases where GTEC took decisive action to ensure compliance:
At the SD-Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), Prof. Philip Duku Osei was ordered to step down upon turning 60, prompting the Governing Council to declare the position vacant.
Similarly, at the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), the Bolgatanga High Court ruled that Prof. Eric M. Wilmot had exceeded the retirement age and therefore had no valid contract.
The court issued a perpetual injunction barring him from performing any duties as Vice-Chancellor.
The then Registrar, Dr. Vincent A. Ankamah Lomotey, was also removed for the same reason.
The petitioners argued that the same standards must apply to UCC, insisting that GTEC’s inaction raises questions about fairness and equal treatment under the law.
Governing Council Accused of Inaction
The UCC Governing Council has come under criticism for failing to address the issue before it escalated.
The petition stated: “All efforts to get the Governing Council of the University, which is vested with the power to revoke the appointment, have proven futile. GTEC does not appear to be interested in applying the laws to get the Vice-Chancellor to step down.”
Four Demands Made to President Mahama
The petitioners are calling on President Mahama to take immediate steps to resolve the matter by:
- Directing GTEC, the Education Minister, and the Attorney General to enforce the constitutional retirement provisions, ensuring Prof. Boampong vacates office on September 18, 2025.
- Ordering the UCC Governing Council to declare the position vacant and put in place a smooth transition plan.
- Demanding a clear justification for Prof. Boampong’s extension and an explanation for the different standards applied compared to UBIDS and CKT-UTAS.
- Launching an investigation into the alleged selective enforcement of retirement policies across Ghana’s public universities.
Implications for Higher Education Governance
The petitioners warned that failure to address the situation could erode public confidence in the governance of higher education institutions.
“Respect for the Constitution and statutory limits on tenure is essential to preserve good governance, institutional integrity, and public confidence in our higher education system,” they stated.
“The current situation undermines the principle of equal application of the law and creates a dangerous precedent of selective justice.”
As the September 18 deadline approaches, stakeholders across the education sector are closely watching to see whether President Mahama will intervene in what could become a landmark case for constitutional compliance in Ghana’s public universities.
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