President Mahama has promised government-facilitated dialogue between UTAG and GTEC after meeting the lecturers' leadership at the Presidency on November 12.

Published 13 Nov 2026, 14:11 GMT

3 min read

University of Ghana sign at the Legon campus — University of Ghana, Legon

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President John Mahama has intervened in the standoff pitting the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) against the tertiary education regulator, pledging government-facilitated dialogue to end the row over university autonomy.

He gave the assurance when UTAG's leadership, led by President Professor Vera Ogeh Fiador, called on him at the Presidency on Thursday, November 12. The association has petitioned the President over the regulator before, sending reminders in April after months without feedback.

The President admitted tensions between the lecturers and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), cautioning that oversight must never tip into undue meddling in how universities run their affairs.

"It's a very fine balance between overreach and regulation. And so we must see where to draw the line so that we maintain the autonomy and academic independence of our tertiary institutions, but at the same time, have the regulator carry out its duties."

"So we are ready to dialogue and engage to see how we can resolve the issues between you and the leadership of GTEC," he said at the meeting.

Professor Fiador said the association believes university autonomy is being eroded while GTEC stretches its authority into the daily running of universities.

"What we have seen over the period is a removal of university autonomy, the powers of councils, and overreach that results in the regulator getting into the affairs of the day-to-day management of the universities," she said.

She insisted the association accepts regulation in principle but seeks rules that free universities to pursue their academic mission.

What the dispute is about

UTAG argues that GTEC should stick to regulation, quality assurance, coordination and accreditation, rather than directives that override university councils.

This month, at its Experts' Forum at the University of Cape Coast, the association called publicly on GTEC Director-General Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai to stop interfering in the governance of public universities.

Academics at the forum pushed for amendments to the GTEC Act, and at Thursday's meeting UTAG renewed its demand for the Director-General's removal.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu reaffirmed the government's commitment to academic freedom and briefed the lecturers on moves to end the row with the GTEC Director-General through an arbitration panel led by his deputy, Dr Clement Apaak.

What else came up

The delegation also raised lecturers' retirement age, recruitment and emoluments, the Book and Research Allowance, the proposed National Research Fund, and import duty exemptions on members' vehicles and research equipment.

Mahama disclosed plans to partner private investors to build student hostels on public campuses, and said a tight compensation budget requires the Finance Minister to manage financial clearance for new appointments.

No timeline was given for the facilitated dialogue, beyond the government's pledge to bring the two sides together and the ongoing arbitration.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

Mahama pledges dialogue to settle UTAG-GTEC dispute over university autonomy

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