Mahama intervenes in UTAG-GTEC dispute over university autonomy

President John Mahama has committed the government to engage in dialogue with the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) in order to resolve disputes surrounding the regulation of tertiary institutions. During a meeting at the Presidency, the President acknowledged the tensions between the two parties and emphasized the importance of finding a balance between regulatory oversight and the autonomy of universities.

Mahama stated that the government is prepared to facilitate discussions to reach common ground, highlighting the delicate nature of maintaining autonomy while ensuring regulatory duties are carried out.

Professor Vera Ogeh Fiador, the UTAG National President, expressed the association's concerns regarding what it perceives as a loss of university autonomy and an expansion of GTEC's regulatory authority into the day-to-day operations of universities. UTAG supports quality assurance and regulation, but the association argues that the Commission's powers must be exercised within boundaries that preserve the independence of university governing councils and academic institutions.

UTAG has not been opposed to regulation per se, but rather seeks a system that facilitates universities in fulfilling their academic responsibilities and contributes to national development.

The core of the disagreement between UTAG and GTEC lies in the Commission's regulatory stance and the association's perception of interference in university governance and administrative decisions. UTAG has previously raised concerns about the exercise of GTEC's powers and has called for amendments to the Commission's leadership.

As the government prepares to engage in dialogue with both parties, the focus will be on identifying a regulatory framework that upholds the autonomy of universities while fulfilling the necessary oversight duties to support national development.