The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has instructed that Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), assume the role of Acting Vice-Chancellor following growing controversy over the tenure of Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong.
GTEC’s directive comes after it emerged that Prof. Boampong has remained in office beyond the constitutionally mandated retirement age of 60. The Commission has also asked the UCC Governing Council to delay the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor until a pending High Court case on the matter is resolved.
In a letter dated September 19, 2025, and signed by Prof. Augustine Otoo, Acting Deputy Director-General of GTEC, the Commission referenced Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which states:
“A public officer shall, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, retire from the public service on attaining the age of sixty years.”
The Commission emphasized that the Vice-Chancellor’s office, established under Section 7(1) of the University of Cape Coast Act, 1992 (PNDCL 278), qualifies as a public office. This means anyone serving as Vice-Chancellor must retire upon turning 60.
GTEC further cited Statute 8.2 of the UCC Statutes, 2016, which limits the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure to an initial four-year term, renewable for up to three more years, provided it does not exceed the mandatory retirement age.
“Based on the relevant constitutional and statutory provisions, and in line with the Commission’s regulatory mandate under Section 7 of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto is to act as Vice-Chancellor in the interim,” the letter stated.
The Commission added that because the matter is before the High Court in Cape Coast, the UCC Governing Council must hold off on appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellor until the court delivers its ruling.
Background to the UCC Leadership Dispute
The leadership tussle dates back to July 2024, when questions were raised about Prof. Boampong’s contract extension and that of the Registrar.
Prof. Boampong was first appointed Vice-Chancellor in June 2020 and assumed office on August 1, 2020, for a four-year term ending July 31, 2024. In July 2023, the UCC Governing Council extended his appointment for an additional two years (August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2026).
However, on July 31, 2024, Council Chairman Prof. Harold S. Amonoo-Kuofi declared the extension void, citing the University’s statutes. He explained that Prof. Boampong would turn 60 in September 2025 and would therefore be unable to complete the extended tenure before reaching the compulsory retirement age.
This disagreement triggered months of debate and legal action, culminating in GTEC’s latest directive to stabilize leadership at the institution pending the court’s decision.
