President John Mahama says government is ready to engage the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to settle disputes over the regulation of tertiary institutions. Speaking during a meeting with UTAG at the Presidency, he acknowledged the friction between the two bodies and stressed the need to strike a balance between regulatory oversight and the autonomy and academic freedom of universities. He said government is prepared to facilitate dialogue to find common ground, noting that regulation must not lead to excessive interference in the running of tertiary institutions.
President Mahama described the issue as a delicate balance between overreach and regulation, saying the line must be drawn in a way that preserves the independence of universities while still allowing the regulator to perform its duties. “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.
UTAG National President, Professor Vera Ogeh Fiador, said the association’s concerns arise from what it views as an erosion of university autonomy and an expansion of GTEC’s powers into the day-to-day administration of universities. She argued that while UTAG supports quality assurance and regulation, the Commission must operate within limits that respect the independence of governing councils and academic institutions. “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 maintained that UTAG is not against regulation but wants an enabling regulatory environment that helps universities fulfil their academic duties and contribute to national development.
