GTEC Warns Heads of Tertiary Institutions Against Political Party Executive Roles

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed heads and senior management of tertiary education institutions who hold executive positions in political parties to resign from those roles or risk losing their public appointments.

In a statement dated July 27, 2026, and addressed to heads of tertiary education institutions, the Commission said it had observed reports that some institutional leaders and senior managers continue to serve as political party executives while holding public office.

According to GTEC, the practice is inconsistent with the principles of political neutrality, impartiality and public confidence expected of leaders within the public tertiary education system.

“As institutions within Ghana’s public tertiary education system, it is imperative that institutional leaders uphold the principles of political neutrality, impartiality, and public confidence in the administration of higher education,” the Commission stated.

GTEC cited Section 26 of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574), which provides that “a chief or a public officer shall not engage in canvassing in support of or against a political party or a candidate standing for a public election.”

The Commission explained that the law also prohibits public officers from occupying executive positions in political parties to avoid actual or perceived conflicts between their official duties and partisan political interests.

“These provisions are intended to safeguard the neutrality and integrity of the Public Service and to prevent situations that may give rise to actual or perceived conflicts between official responsibilities and partisan political interests,” the statement said.

GTEC further referred to the position of the Public Services Commission, which requires public officers who wish to engage in active party politics or accept political party executive positions to relinquish their public office before doing so.

“The Public Services Commission has also consistently reiterated that public officers who intend to engage in active party politics or assume political party executive positions are expected to relinquish their public office before doing so, in accordance with the applicable constitutional and statutory provisions.”

The directive applies to senior officers across all public tertiary education institutions, including Vice-Chancellors, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Principals, Vice-Principals, Registrars, Directors of Finance, Deans, Heads of Department and other senior management officials.

The Commission has therefore instructed governing councils and management of tertiary institutions to ensure full compliance with the law.

According to GTEC, individuals who currently hold both public office and political party executive positions are expected to resign from their political party roles or be relieved of their public appointments.

The Commission said the directive forms part of efforts to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and political neutrality in the governance and administration of Ghana’s higher education institutions.