Concerned faculty and staff of Bolgatanga Technical University have petitioned the Minister of Education to remove the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Dr. Bishop Akolgo, accusing him of administrative overreach, unilateral decision-making, and persistent disregard for the laws and statutes governing technical universities.
Addressing the press on the university’s campus, the staff, led by Dr. Martin Awe Akilla, said the petition was necessitated by what they described as an “administrative crisis” that has destabilized the institution and eroded confidence among staff. The development comes just days after Dr. Akolgo inaugurated a five-member committee to investigate the Vice-Chancellor over alleged procurement breaches.
In a detailed petition copied to key state institutions, including the Attorney-General, the Upper East Regional Minister, and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the staff argued that the Council Chairman has repeatedly exceeded his mandate, interfering in the day-to-day management of the university in violation of the Technical Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922).
According to the petitioners, the Governing Council’s role is supervisory and strategic, yet Dr. Akolgo has allegedly issued directives directly to staff without informing management, convened meetings with deans and directors without the knowledge of the Vice-Chancellor, and bypassed established management structures—actions they say have created a parallel power structure and undermined institutional authority.
The staff further accused the Chairman of annexing the Vice-Chancellor’s official vehicle and driver for personal use, and of directly interfering with the Vice-Chancellor’s official travels, including an instance where approval was allegedly blocked for a meeting of the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities in Ghana.
Beyond operational interference, the petition alleges that Dr. Akolgo has taken major decisions without Council consensus, contrary to principles of corporate governance. Among the cited instances is an alleged unilateral attempt to alter the University’s vision, mission, core values, and ten-year strategic plan documents, which the staff say were developed through a broad consultative process and validated by stakeholders in 2024.
The petitioners also recalled an incident in which the Chairman allegedly directed the Vice-Chancellor to proceed on a one-year accumulated leave dating back to 2018 and appointed the Pro Vice-Chancellor as Acting Vice-Chancellor, a decision they say was later rescinded after pushback from Council members.
Relations between the University and its regulator, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, were also cited as a major concern. The staff claimed that GTEC had to intervene to restore calm after repeated instances of overreach, including a personal visit by the Commission’s Director-General. They allege that instead of collaborating with the regulator, the Council Chairman engaged in what they described as “unhealthy and counter-productive exchanges,” further straining the relationship.
A central issue in the petition is what the staff described as a “mission to remove the Vice-Chancellor,” Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa. They alleged that Dr. Akolgo questioned the legality of the Vice-Chancellor’s reappointment despite the matter having been determined by the courts, validated by GTEC, and cleared by a Council committee. They also expressed concern that allegations of procurement breaches were made publicly without formal institutional findings.
While welcoming any genuine inquiry into the use of public funds, the petitioners insisted that allowing the Council Chairman to oversee investigations into matters in which he is directly involved would amount to making him “a referee in his own case.” They therefore called for any such investigations to be handled by an independent body.
The staff further accused the Chairman of disregarding due process by entertaining petitions that had already been determined by institutions such as the National Labour Commission, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, GTEC, and the courts. They claimed that public funds were subsequently spent on meetings aimed at reversing settled rulings, actions they say have deepened uncertainty and mistrust on campus.
According to the petition, the cumulative effect of these actions has been a breakdown of peace and industrial harmony at the University, a decline in staff morale, and growing fear of reprisals against those who speak out. The staff also raised concerns about what they described as wasteful expenditure arising from numerous unproductive Council meetings that revisited issues already concluded.
As part of their submission, the petitioners highlighted what they called the “major achievements” of the current Vice-Chancellor, citing improved financial management with no bank overdrafts for years, increased enrolment through new academic programmes, faster promotion of qualified staff, expanded programme offerings from about 11 to over 35, improved internet connectivity, stronger research funding, and the successful conversion of the former polytechnic into a technical university.
In their demands, the concerned faculty and staff called on the Minister of Education to immediately remove Dr. Bishop Akolgo as Governing Council Chairman and, if necessary, dissolve the current Council to restore stability and adherence to the rule of law. They warned that if their concerns are not addressed within two weeks, they would “advise themselves accordingly.”
The group said they remain hopeful that swift intervention by the Education Ministry would restore calm, protect academic freedom, and allow the University to refocus on its core mandate of teaching, research, and innovation.
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