The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) is at the center of a growing governance crisis, following allegations of autocratic leadership and procedural violations leveled against the Vice Chancellor by Associate Professor George Agyei, Head of the Department of Mining Engineering.
In a formal petition addressed to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and copied to the Western Regional Minister, Prof. Agyei has called for immediate intervention to safeguard the integrity of UMaT’s academic and administrative systems.
According to the petition, the Vice Chancellor has:
- Bypassed university statutes by constituting a Disciplinary Committee without the required Convocation representation, in violation of Statute 39(2)(b).
- Manipulated convocation meeting agendas to reconstitute advisory boards post-petition, a move critics describe as an attempt to retroactively legitimize illegal processes.
- Interfered in staff promotions, including the alleged unauthorized promotion of Dr. Bright Oppong Afum while on leave, contravening Promotion Criteria Section 3.6(iii).
- Undermined departmental recommendations in appointments, including those of Mr. Michael Owusu Tweneboah and Mr. Boakye Yiadom.
- Disregarded official petitions, including stalling Prof. Agyei’s own promotion process.
Governance Experts Call for Urgent Reforms
Higher education governance experts have weighed in, warning that such overreach threatens not only the autonomy of UMaT but sets a dangerous precedent for tertiary education governance in Ghana. Among the corrective measures recommended are:
- Nullification of all actions taken by improperly constituted committees.
- Strict adherence to UMaT’s governing statutes for all appointments and disciplinary procedures.
- Transparent and inclusive promotion processes with departmental input.
- Independent internal audit to uncover systemic irregularities.
- Disciplinary action against the Vice Chancellor for creating a climate of fear and violating due process.
Prof. Agyei warns that this is more than an internal dispute — it’s a test of the resilience of Ghana’s higher education system. “We must refuse to allow due process to be replaced with autocratic discretion,” he stated, urging GTEC, the Ministry of Education, and the wider academic community to defend democratic governance and university autonomy.
