The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong to vacate his position as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), citing his continued stay in office beyond the compulsory retirement age of 60.
In a letter dated Friday, September 19, 2025, GTEC argued that Prof. Boampong’s occupancy of the role violates Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates public officers to retire at age 60 unless otherwise specified.
“The Office of the Vice-Chancellor, being an office established under Section 7(1) of the University of Cape Coast Act, 1992 (PNDCL 278), is a public office under the meaning and intendment of Article 199(1). Hence, anyone acting in the office of the Vice-Chancellor is presumptively mandated to proceed on compulsory retirement upon attaining 60 years,” the letter read.
The Commission further pointed to the UCC Statutes (2016), which set the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure at four years, renewable for three more years, provided the statutory retirement age is not exceeded.
In the meantime, GTEC has directed the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, to serve as Acting Vice-Chancellor.
The Commission also acknowledged that the matter is currently before the Cape Coast High Court and has instructed the UCC Governing Council to suspend the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor until the case is resolved.
