A senior law lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr. Elijah Tukwariba Yin, has taken the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to court over its directive for the Vice Chancellor, Professor Johnson Boampong, to vacate his post after turning 60.
In a letter dated September 19, 2025, GTEC insisted that Prof. Boampong’s continued stay in office breached Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which sets the retirement age for public office holders at 60. The Commission argued that the Vice Chancellor’s position falls under this category, as defined by the University of Cape Coast Act, 1992 (PNDCL 278).
GTEC subsequently instructed UCC’s Governing Council to appoint Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dennis Aheto as acting Vice Chancellor until a pending Cape Coast High Court case on the matter is resolved. It also threatened to cut off government subventions, accreditation, and salary payments if the directive was ignored.
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But Dr. Yin, who is Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law, contends that GTEC overstepped its authority and unlawfully interfered in university governance. He argues that only UCC’s Governing Council has the power to remove a Vice Chancellor and that Prof. Boampong was denied a fair hearing. He also accuses the Commission of flouting an existing High Court injunction while issuing arbitrary threats and unlawfully withholding statutory services.
Filing the suit as a private citizen, Dr. Yin maintains that it is the duty of every citizen to challenge abuses of public power. He says GTEC’s actions not only undermine due process but also threaten the operations of the university, which directly affects him as a member of staff.
He is asking the court to:
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Nullify GTEC’s directives removing Prof. Boampong, appointing an acting Vice Chancellor, and withdrawing services.
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Quash the order for the Vice Chancellor to step down.
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Issue an injunction restraining GTEC from interfering in the Vice Chancellor’s tenure.
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Compel GTEC to process UCC’s lawful requests.
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Bar Prof. Aheto from serving as acting Vice Chancellor.
The Cape Coast High Court is expected to hear the case in the coming weeks.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem