Aclash that unfolded this month between the Governing Council of the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) is deepening.
A circular issued by the governing council on Friday, 19 December 2025, is urging staff and students of the state-owned university to remain calm in the wake of the growing standoff.
It all started about a week ago, when the governing council directed the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, to proceed on a one-year leave, commencing December 19, 2025, and ending December 18, 2026.
The council also appointed the university’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Peter Osei Boamah, as Acting Vice-Chancellor, starting 19th December, 2025, until further notice, and Richard Abugre Atia as substantive Registrar, effective January 1, 2026.
The decisions, taken at an emergency council meeting held on Thursday, 11 December 2025, were communicated to the university community through a circular dated 15th December, 2025.
GTEC’s directive
Subsequently, GTEC wrote a letter, dated 15th December, 2025, directing that the governing council stay (pause or suspend) action on the decisions taken at the emergency meeting.
“Sir, the Commission finds this directive unprecedented and potentially problematic as that can create unforeseen negative consequences.
“This is because, the office of the Vice Chancellor is a very important office within the university architecture and directing the occupant of such an office through a circular to the university community to proceed on leave is unacceptable,” stated GTEC in the letter signed the Director-General, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai.
The letter added: “Again, in the referenced circular, Mr. Richard Abugre Atia, the Acting Registrar of the University, is deemed to have been appointed the substantive Registrar effective 1st January, 2026. Sir, GTEC is reliably informed that Mr. Richard Abugri [sic] Atia did not make the pass mark as set by the interview panel constituted to conduct interviews for that position.”
Governing Council rubbishes GTEC’s directive
In the letter, GTEC further requested that the governing council submit some documents, including the interview report for the Registrar position, for review and guidance.
The letter also affirmed that Prof. Alnaa would remain the university’s Vice-Chancellor and that Atia could not assume the role of Registrar until further notice.
In response to GTEC’s directive, the governing council, in the latest circular it issued to the university community on December 19, insisted that Prof. Alnaa take his accumulated annual leave from Friday, 19 December 2025, with Prof. Boamah stepping in as Acting Vice-Chancellor until further notice.
“Council has taken note of a letter from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) dated 15th December, 2025, requesting Council to stay its decision directing the Vice Chancellor to take his accumulated leave. Council will respond appropriately to GTEC on the matter.
“Council therefore reaffirms its directive for the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel E. Alnaa to take his accumulated annual leave with effect from Friday 19th December 2025, as directed earlier, until further notice. The Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Peter Osei Boamah will act in the absence of the Vice Chancellor,” stated the governing council’s circular, signed by the Chairman, Dr. Bishop Akolgo.
Additionally, the circular said: “Staff and students are advised to stay calm and go about with their normal business. Staff are also STRONGLY advised to [refrain] from making comments on the matter on public platforms or posting materials on public platforms relating to the matter without approval.”
Several members of the university community strongly suspect the GTEC Director-General is shielding the Vice-Chancellor from accountability.
Their suspicions stem from a report compiled by a committee commissioned to look into some “strong allegations” and petitions lodged with the governing council.
The allegations and petitions came from some staff of the university, the Sumbrungu Community (where the university’s main campus is located) and the Bolgatanga Traditional Council.
The governing council said it would soon issue a communiqué on the report to the university community and its stakeholders.
Source: Edward Adeti/Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org/Ghana/West Africa
