{"id":113696,"date":"2026-02-02T11:29:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=113696"},"modified":"2026-02-02T11:29:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:29:19","slug":"princof-calls-for-dialogue-as-utag-seeks-gtec-leadership-resignation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=113696","title":{"rendered":"PRINCOF calls for dialogue as UTAG seeks GTEC leadership resignation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='booster-block booster-read-block'>\n                <div class=\"twp-read-time\">\n                \t<i class=\"booster-icon twp-clock\"><\/i> <span>Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 5 Second                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div><div>\n<p>The National Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) has expressed concern over recent calls by some branches of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) for the resignation or removal of the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, and his Deputy, Professor Augustine Ocloo.<\/p>\n<p>UTAG-UG demanded that Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai and Prof. Augustine Ocloo step down by January 31, 2026, or face a petition to the Chief of Staff and possible industrial action.<\/p>\n<p>The lecturers\u2019 group accused the GTEC leadership of abandoning the commission\u2019s core mandate to pursue what it described as \u201ctangential and sometimes frivolous actions, such as chasing people with \u2018fake degrees\u2019, while neglecting the fundamental issues affecting tertiary education in Ghana.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a statement issued on Monday, February 2, PRINCOF said it believes the issues prompting the calls require further engagement and careful consideration, warning that the timing and nature of the demands warrant \u201csober reflection\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cPRINCOF is of the view that the issues under reference require further engagement and that the calls being made at this time need sober reflection,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n<p>While acknowledging the concerns raised by UTAG members in the traditional universities, the principals\u2019 body stressed that such matters are best resolved through dialogue rather than public ultimatums or threats of industrial action.<\/p>\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PRINCOF-Press-Statement-on-Calls-from-UTAG-on-GTEC-Boss-and-Deputy-2.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of PRINCOF Press Statement on Calls from UTAG on GTEC Boss and Deputy (2).\"><\/object>PRINCOF Press Statement on Calls from UTAG on GTEC Boss and Deputy (2)Download<\/div>\n<p>\u201cWhile we acknowledge the concerns raised by our colleagues in the traditional universities, we strongly advocate for resolution through dialogue and engagement rather than public ultimatums and signals of industrial action.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>PRINCOF argued that escalating disputes through deadlines and strike signals risks heightening tensions within the tertiary education sector and could undermine the stability of academic institutions across the country. <\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>READ ASLO: <\/strong>UTAG-UG demands resignation of GTEC bosses over \u2018incompetent, administrative overreach\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Instead, it urged stakeholders with genuine grievances to utilise established statutory and administrative channels.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe recommend to all parties with genuine concerns to channel their grievances through the appropriate statutory and administrative pathways, including the Ministry of Education and the GTEC Governing Board, where seeming impasses can be addressed through collaborative problem-solving,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n<p>According to the conference, appropriate avenues for redress include engagement with the Ministry of Education and the GTEC Governing Board, where perceived impasses can be addressed through collaborative problem-solving and lawful procedures.<strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>READ ALSO:<\/strong> UTAG-KNUST backs call for removal of GTEC Director-General, Deputy over incompetence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Drawing on its own experience, PRINCOF noted that it has worked closely with GTEC under the leadership of Professor Jinapor Abdulai and Professor Ocloo and has consistently found them open to consultation and constructive engagement. <\/p>\n<p>This, the statement said, reinforces the need for continued dialogue rather than confrontation.<\/p>\n<p>The principals\u2019 body therefore appealed for restraint and calm, calling on all parties to prioritise reasoned discussions in the national interest. <\/p>\n<p> It urged stakeholders \u2014 including government, regulators and academic staff \u2014 to work together to address concerns in a way that safeguards the integrity of Ghana\u2019s tertiary education system and supports national development.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe therefore call for cool heads to prevail. Now is the time for reasoned dialogue. Let us come together<br \/>as stakeholders \u2013 government, regulators, and academic staff \u2013 to address concerns in a manner that<br \/>preserves the integrity of our tertiary education system and promotes national development,\u201d PRINCOF stated.<\/p>\n<p>PRINCOF reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the education sector through cooperation, mutual respect and adherence to lawful processes, emphasising that sustained dialogue remains the most effective path to resolving disputes within the academic community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPRINCOF remains committed to supporting all efforts aimed at strengthening Ghana\u2019s education sector through cooperation, mutual respect, and lawful engagement,\u201d the statement concluded.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n        <div class=\"booster-block booster-reactions-block\">\n            <div class=\"twp-reactions-icons\">\n                \n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-1\" 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class=\"twp-react-percent\"><span>0<\/span> %<\/span>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n    ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-106-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"PRINCOF calls for dialogue as UTAG seeks GTEC leadership resignation\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"PRINCOF calls for dialogue as UTAG seeks GTEC leadership resignation\">The National Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) has expressed concern over recent calls by some branches of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) for the resignation or removal of the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, and his Deputy, Professor Augustine Ocloo.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3282,1883,10,9,16280,4005],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gtec","category-national","category-politics","category-popular","category-princof","category-utag"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=113696"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113696\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=113696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=113696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=113696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}