The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a directive to the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to pause the recruitment process for the positions of Registrar and Director of Human Resources.
The reason behind this directive is the sensitivity of these appointments and the need to address concerns raised by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA).
In a letter signed by the presidents of UTAG and GAUA, as well as the convocation leadership at UCC, it was highlighted that the eligibility criteria set out in the current advertisements for the positions do not align with the UCC Statutes (2016) and are seen as problematic, discriminatory, and contrary to the university’s statutes.
Specifically, the unions raised objections to the inclusion of requirements such as a research degree, 16 and 12 years of post-qualification experience, and specific years of post-rank Deputy Registrar experience for the positions in question. They believe that these criteria could lead to suspicions and litigations and go against the university’s commitment to providing equal opportunities to all.
However, the Chairman of the UCC Governing Council, Prof. Harold Amoono Kuofie, defended the advertisements, stating that they are in line with the university’s statutes and have been approved by the council. He emphasized that the criteria were based on the committee’s report on the restructuring of the Registrar’s office and reflect current best practices in higher education.
Despite the unions’ calls for the withdrawal of the advertisements, Prof. Amoono Kuofie expressed that they will not be withdrawn and urged UTAG to engage in constructive dialogue rather than challenging the council’s authority.
GTEC has recommended that the petitions from UTAG and GAUA be brought before the UCC Governing Council for discussion and decision-making, in order to ensure a fair and transparent process for the appointments.
This disagreement highlights the importance of addressing concerns raised by stakeholders in the recruitment process to maintain the integrity and reputation of the university and ensure a fair and inclusive selection process.
