By Wilberforce Asare
Copyright asaaseradio
Concerned members of the University of Cape Coast, UCC community have objected to the “unprocedural early removal” of the University’s Vice-Chancellor.
In an open letter addressed to the Minister of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and the Chairman of the Governing Council of UCC, the insiders at the University, cautioned against attempts to compel the Vice-Chancellor to vacate his position upon attaining the age of 60 on 18th September 2025, contrary to the University’s governing statutes.
The letter, titled “Opposition to Unprocedural Early Removal of UCC Vice-Chancellor,” stressed that such a directive, if enforced, would be unlawful and undermine the credibility of UCC’s governance.
Quoting directly from the University’s governing framework, the watchful voice within UCC highlighted Statute 13.8 of the Statutes of the University of Cape Coast (2016), which states:
“Except as may be otherwise provided in special cases by Council, a senior member shall retire from his or her appointment and all other offices held by virtue of the appointment at the end of the academic year in which he or she attains the retiring age of 60 years.”
Similarly, Statute 13.7 clarifies that retirement must occur “at the end of the academic year in which the contract expires,” not on the date of one’s birthday. According to the open letter, this makes it clear that the Vice-Chancellor, having reached the statutory retirement age during the 2025/2026 academic year, is legally bound to retire on 31st July 2026, and not on 18th September 2025.
“This principle – commonly referred to as the ‘roll-over’ or ‘roll-on’ – has been consistently applied to previous Vice-Chancellors of the University, including Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Prof. D.D. Kuupole, and Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah. To now depart from this precedent without compelling justification would not only be legally indefensible but also ethically troubling,” the letter noted.
The author, who is one of several members unsettled by the Council’s move, further argued that any attempt to prematurely remove the Vice-Chancellor would raise issues of discrimination and inconsistency in governance.
Specific examples
Citing specific examples, the letter pointed out that the Director of Finance, Mrs. Elizabeth Obese, and the Ag. Director of ICT, Mr. John Kwame Eduafo Edumadze, are also due to turn 60 during the 2025/2026 academic year but are expected to remain in office until July 2026 under the same “roll-over” principle.
“If the principle of immediate retirement upon reaching the age threshold is to be enforced, then consistency demands that all others in comparable positions be subject to the same directive. Anything less would be discriminatory and risk rendering the governance of the University ungovernable,” the letter stressed.
The open letter also raised alarm over the Governing Council’s decision to refer certain dockets to the Office of the Attorney General, describing the move as “a troubling departure from the spirit of academic freedom.”
The letter emphasized that the Council must not assume judicial authority, particularly when related cases are still pending before the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
“The presence of a former Supreme Court Justice at the helm of the Council should reinforce, not undermine, the commitment to the principles of natural justice and respect for the judiciary and its processes,” the letter stressed.
The insider at UCC, therefore, called on the Governing Council to allow due process to take its course and respect the University’s Statutes, noting that any unilateral or premature action could erode public trust in the institution.
“The University’s credibility rests on the fair, consistent, and lawful application of its own rules – not on discretionary interpretations that erode trust and stability. The Court should have a final say on this matter. We want peace on the UCC campus and not violence,” the letter emphasized.
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