Mahama pledges dialogue to resolve UTAG-GTEC dispute

President John Mahama says the government is prepared to engage the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to resolve disagreements over the regulation of tertiary institutions.

He says the engagement will seek to strike a balance between regulatory oversight and the autonomy and academic independence of universities.

Speaking during a meeting with UTAG at the Presidency, President Mahama acknowledged the tensions between the association and GTEC, stressing that the need for regulation must not result in excessive interference in the administration of tertiary institutions.

He said government is ready to facilitate discussions to find common ground.

“ 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 stem from what it considers an erosion of university autonomy and an expansion of GTEC's regulatory 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 university 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.

Professor Fiador maintained that UTAG was not opposed to regulation but wanted a system that supports universities to fulfil their academic responsibilities and contributes to national development.

“What we seek is a regulatory environment that is enabling and helps us to achieve national development in the best interests of all,” she added.

The disagreement between UTAG and GTEC has centred on the Commission's regulatory approach and what the association describes as interference in university governance and administrative decisions. UTAG has previously raised concerns over the exercise of GTEC's powers and called for changes to the Commission's leadership.