The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch, has rejected the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission's (GTEC) proposed harmonisation of promotion guidelines for academic staff, describing the move as an intrusion into the autonomy of public universities.

In a statement issued on June 29, 2026, UTAG-UCC said its Local Executive Council had unanimously opposed the proposal following deliberations at a meeting on June 25.

The association said its objection was not to quality assurance or benchmarking, but to what it believes is an attempt by GTEC to assume responsibilities assigned by law to university governing bodies. It argued that appointments, promotions and the assessment of academic merit are matters for University Councils and Academic Boards under the statutes establishing public universities.

UTAG-UCC maintained that while the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) gives GTEC responsibility for quality assurance, coordination and benchmarking, it does not empower the Commission to direct or harmonise institutional promotion decisions.

The association also questioned GTEC's justification that disparities in promotion standards across universities require regulatory intervention, arguing that differences in promotion criteria reflect the distinct mandates, academic cultures and strategic priorities of individual institutions.

It added that international practice generally allows universities to determine appointments and promotions while national regulators focus on quality assurance and benchmarking.

UTAG-UCC further urged GTEC to prioritise challenges including inadequate staffing, poor student-to-lecturer ratios, insufficient laboratory infrastructure and conditions of service, rather than pursuing harmonised promotion guidelines.

The association called on the government and the Ministry of Education to affirm that GTEC's mandate is limited to national quality assurance and benchmarking, while University Councils and Academic Boards retain responsibility for appointments, promotions and the determination of academic merit.

UTAG-UCC also announced that it would not participate in any consultation process that assumes acceptance of the proposed framework, saying it remains committed to defending the statutory independence of the University of Cape Coast and academic freedom.