Lawyers for the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, have formally called on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to withdraw its directive asking him to step aside.
This was contained in a letter dated September 19, 2025, addressed to GTEC and copied to the Minister of Education, the Chancellor and Council Chair of UCC, and the Chairman of Vice-Chancellors’ Ghana.
GTEC on September 18 directed Prof. Boampong to step aside, appointing Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto as acting Vice-Chancellor.
GTEC noted that Prof. Boampong remains in office despite surpassing the mandatory retirement age of 60, in violation of Article 199(1) of the 1992 Constitution.
However, Prof. Boampong’s legal team has described the directive as unlawful and in direct violation of a subsisting court order.
The lawyers argued that GTEC’s latest directive mirrors an earlier attempt by a former UCC Council Chairman to remove the Vice-Chancellor through a text message, an action currently under litigation at the Cape Coast High Court.
They pointed out that on October 8, 2024, the High Court issued an injunction restraining the University’s Governing Council and related parties from taking any steps to remove or suspend Prof. Boampong until the case is fully determined.
A subsequent effort by GTEC to set aside the injunction was dismissed by the Supreme Court on February 5, 2025.
The legal team further noted that Ghana’s Constitution allows individuals over the age of 60 to hold public office under certain conditions, supporting their client’s eligibility to remain in office.
They also referenced UCC’s rollover policy and governing statutes as additional legal grounds for the Vice-Chancellor’s continued tenure.
“It is therefore surprising that you have issued a letter effectively suspending our client’s appointment,” the lawyers stated. “Your actions not only disregard a valid court order but also contravene the Statutes of the University.”
The lawyers demanded that GTEC immediately withdraw its letter, insisting that Prof. Boampong will continue to perform his duties as Vice-Chancellor in compliance with the law and university regulations.
They warned that failure to comply would compel them to take further legal action to enforce the court’s authority.
Source: Adomonline
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Read the full statement below:
Attached below are details from the letter from Prof Boampong’s lawyer, Dennis Adjei Dwomoh of Law Plus
Re: Stay in Office Post Compulsory Age
We act as solicitors of Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong (hereinafter referred to as “Our Client”) and we have his firm instructions to write this letter to you.
1. We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19th September 2025 and the content therein. Interestingly, the content of your letter is similar to the content of the letter unilaterally written by the former Chairman of the University, Prof. Harold S. Amonoo-Kuofi to purportedly dismiss our client from office via text message.
2. You are duly aware that the basis for your letter also happens to be the facts, which is the subject matter of the action currently pending before the High Court, Cape Coast in Suit No: E12/105/2-24 John Mevemeo vrs University of Cape Coast and Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong. On the 8th day of October, 2024 the High Court, granted the Injunction prayed and made an order that the University of Cape Coast, its Governing Council, the Chairman
of the Council, their Agents, Assigns, Privies, Workmen, Servants or their Appointors are RESTRAINED AND PROHIBITED from:
(i) discussing or deliberating any matter(s) relating to the REMOVAL of our client as the VICE-CHANCELLOR of the University of Cape Coast.
(ii) taking any decision that will SUSPEND, REVERSE, or SET ASIDE the APPOINTMENT of our client as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast.
(iii) interfering with the RENEWAL OF THE APPOINTMENT of our client as the VICE-CHANCELLOR of the University of Cape Coast until the final determination of the suit.
It is important to mention that your institution filed an application in the Supreme Court to quash the order of injunction in CIVIL MOTION NO: J5/7/2025, THE REPUBLIC VS HIGH COURT, CAPE COAST; EX PARTE GHANA TERTIARY EDUCATION COMMISSION (UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST and PROF. JOHNSON NYARKO BOAMPONG- Interested Parties). The Supreme Court on the 5th day of February 2025 dismissed your application.
We have attached copies of the ruling of the High Court and the Supreme Court just in case you have not read same and/or don’t have a copy of it although you have been informed of the content therein.
4. Interestingly, you failed to state that the Supreme Court rejected your argument of quoting Article 199(1) and leaving out Article 199(4) which empowers the state to employ or engage a person over sixty years of age, which was inserted per THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1996. To court displeasure for our client, you once again intentionally omitted to mention the rollover policy of the University, which is backed by the University Statutes. All of these arguments being raised
in your letter are the subject matter of the suit before the High Court, Cape Coast.
5. On the 27th day of August 2025, we wrote to the members of the new council of the University and placed you in copy. In the said letter we gave a detailed background of the instant action and the orders made therein.
6. It is therefore surprising that you have written a letter taking a decision that has SUSPENDED the APPOINTMENT of our client as Vice-Chancellor of the University. Apart from disrespecting the court orders, your actions also amount to side-stepping the Statutes of the University, and usurpation of the powers of the bodies of the University, and interference with the academic independence of the University.
7. Consequently, we have the directions of our client and, as officers of the court, respectfully demand you withdraw your letter dated 19th September 2025 and respect the orders of the court, failing which we have the firm
instructions of our client to take the necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of the court. In the meantime, our Client would ignore the said letter and continue to act in office as directed by the University Statutes and in accordance with the orders of the court.
Yours Sincerely,
