Social commentator Stanley Abopam has claimed that about six lecturers, including professors and other senior academics, have left Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) amid the prolonged leadership dispute at the institution.
According to him, other lecturers are considering leaving the university as tensions between the Governing Council and management continue, raising concerns about staff retention, academic activities and the institution’s reputation.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Mr Abopam said the leadership crisis had created an unfavourable working environment, which could make it increasingly difficult for the university to retain experienced academic staff.
“At least as we speak, six or so, some professors, some senior lecturers, some lecturers with PhD and so forth and so on,” he said.
Although the reported departures have not been independently verified, Mr Abopam maintained that the continuing disagreements could have long-term consequences for the university’s growth and development.
He expressed concern that the dispute could also affect student recruitment, particularly the institution’s ability to attract applicants from other parts of the country.
“We want our universities to have students coming all over the country and some of these unhealthy conflicts doesn’t give a good narrative about our universities or tertiary institutions,” he said.
His concerns come amid a protracted leadership dispute involving the University’s Governing Council and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa.
The Bolgatanga High Court recently quashed decisions taken by the Governing Council to terminate Prof. Alnaa’s appointment and sanction two other senior officers, ruling that the Council lacked the required quorum when it took the decisions.
The court also found that the Special Investigative Committee established by the Council to investigate the officers had been unlawfully constituted.
Despite the ruling, Prof. Alnaa and the two officers were reportedly denied access to their offices when they attempted to resume work on Monday, October 19, 2026.
University authorities reportedly cited a pending appeal and an application for a stay of execution as reasons for not allowing the officers to resume their duties.
Mr Abopam argued that the continuing disagreement reflected broader governance challenges in tertiary institutions, particularly misunderstandings over the respective responsibilities of governing councils and university management.
He said such disputes could undermine institutional stability when they remain unresolved for extended periods.
The crisis has also attracted attention from other technical universities.
In June 2026, the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana suspended BTU from the association’s activities, citing concerns about the handling of the leadership dispute and unsuccessful attempts to engage the University’s Governing Council.
Mr Abopam further claimed that several prominent individuals had attempted to mediate the disagreement, including an intervention involving the Speaker of Parliament, but that those efforts had failed to resolve the impasse.
He urged the parties to put the interests of the university and the Upper East Region ahead of their differences.
“The earlier we understood that this is not about us, but this is about the Upper East Region, this is about the future of BTU, the better for us,” he said.
Mr Abopam called for renewed efforts to resolve the leadership crisis, warning that continued disagreements could undermine the university’s ability to attract and retain qualified staff, provide quality education and contribute to the development of the region.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
