The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), in consultation with the Ministry of Education (MoE), has issued a directive to Vice-Chancellors of all traditional universities to put on hold the nomination of representatives from the Tertiary Education Workers' Union (TEWU) to their respective governing councils.

In an official communication signed by Mr. Jerry Safo, Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, on behalf of the Director-General of GTEC, the Commission explained that the directive stems from an unresolved disagreement between two factions of the union, TEWU-GH and TEWU-TUC. The conflict has created uncertainty around the rightful representation of non-teaching staff on the councils of public universities.

GTEC disclosed that it is actively engaging both factions in efforts to resolve the impasse and ensure a unified front for TEWU's participation in University governance. Until such resolution is reached, all TEWU nominations to University Governing Councils are to be suspended.

Furthermore, GTEC stated that TEWU members who have already been sworn into governing councils of institutions including the University of Cape Coast (UCC), University of Education, Winneba (UEW), University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), University for Development Studies (UDS), and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), are considered suspended from their roles, pending further notice.

A high-level meeting involving GTEC, both TEWU factions, and the Vice-Chancellors-Ghana (VCG) is scheduled for May 16, 2025. The outcome of this meeting is expected to provide a clear path forward regarding TEWU's representation on University Councils.

The letter was also copied to key stakeholders, including the Hon. Minister for Education, the Director-General of GTEC, and chairpersons of the Vice-Chancellors-Ghana, TEWU-TUC, and TEWU-GH, signaling the importance of the issue to national higher education governance.

The university community is urged to remain calm and cooperate with the directive while GTEC works towards an amicable resolution.

Story by: Abdul Hayi Moomen
(UDS Media)