By Ansah David

Copyright ahotoronline

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has officially instructed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, to step aside, citing his continued tenure beyond the compulsory retirement age of 60. In the interim, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, the current Acting Vice-Chancellor, has been tasked with assuming leadership of the university.
In a statement issued on September 19, 2025, GTEC confirmed that its attention had been drawn to the fact that Prof. Boampong had remained in office despite exceeding the statutory retirement age, in direct violation of Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. The provision stipulates that a public officer must retire upon reaching the age of 60, unless specified otherwise by the Constitution.
“Article 199(1) of the Constitution mandates that a public officer, unless otherwise directed by the Constitution, shall retire upon attaining the age of 60,” the statement from GTEC read.
The Commission further clarified that the position of Vice-Chancellor falls under the definition of a public office as outlined in the University of Cape Coast Act, 1992 (PNDCL 278). As such, the officeholder is required to vacate their post upon reaching the age threshold, which in Prof. Boampong’s case, has already been surpassed.
Moreover, GTEC referenced Statute 8.2 of the University of Cape Coast Statutes, 2016, which explicitly states that a Vice-Chancellor may only serve a subsequent term if it does not exceed the statutory retirement limit.
In response to ongoing legal proceedings, GTEC stated that it has directed the UCC Governing Council to delay the appointment of a new substantive Vice-Chancellor until the Cape Coast High Court resolves a suit filed on the matter. The suit, which concerns Prof. Boampong’s continued tenure, is currently pending judicial review.
While GTEC’s directive ensures that Prof. Boampong steps aside, the University of Cape Coast community will await the court’s decision on the matter, which could have implications for both institutional governance and broader policies regarding the retirement age for public service officers in Ghana’s higher education sector.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku