The University of Ghana Chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG) has called out the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for their apparent complacency and lack of concern in addressing critical issues facing universities across the country.
Addressing the public at their recent press conference held at the University of Ghana on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the General Secretary of UTAG-UG, Jerry Joe Harrison, condemned GTEC for being unconcerned about the pressing issues of the university.
Pointing to the infrastructural deficit, which he believes has been stretched thin by policies like the Free Senior High School (SHS) program and rising utility bills, he called out GTEC for neglect and mismanagement.
“Higher educational institutions have been forced to admit more students than their capacity can hold. Infrastructure is in deficit across all public institutions, and yet GTEC, the regulator, appears unconcerned,” he remarked.
Mr. Harrison also voiced frustration at what he perceives as a lack of support from the government despite the commendation for keeping retired lecturers.
“The decision to engage retiring lecturers to maintain a decent student-teacher ratio that reduces the burden on lecturers is one that needs commendation, but the continued refusal of the government to give clearance to recruit new lecturers to replace those who exit threatens the quality of education universities can provide to these students,” he said.
Most critically, UTAG-UG criticized GTEC’s apparent indifference to these pressing issues.They questioned GTEC’s silence on government’s refusal to recruit more lecturers to offload the burden on the current staff.
“Why isn’t GTEC insisting that the government gives clearance to recruit more faculty to maintain a reasonable student-lecturer ratio in our universities as their standard requires? They go after institutions at the slightest breach, with accreditation of courses having metamorphosed into a money-making venture rather than a pure act of quality assurance.”
Additionally, Mr. Harrison expressed frustration over the poor financial treatment given to lecturers and the backlog of promotion arrears for lecturers, some exceeding five years, which remains unresolved despite being on the table of the National Labour Commission for over a year.
“Lecturers in Ghana remain some of the poorest-paid workers, while enormous responsibilities continue to pile on their shoulders,” he emphasized. “Promotion arrears for faculty remain in arrears, with some more than five years. This matter has been on the table of the National Labour Commission for more than a year, and yet, nothing is happening.”
UTAG-UG concluded by urging GTEC and the government to prioritize the welfare of lecturers and invest adequately in university infrastructure. They emphasized that without urgent and committed action, the quality of tertiary education in Ghana will continue to decline, undermining the country’s developmental aspirations.
–
Story by: Fauzia Salim| univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by: Fauzia Salim
