Tension is mounting at the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) following an emergency Governing Council meeting where the Council Chairman, Dr Bishop Akolgo, allegedly rejected a high-profile mediation attempt by the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban S.K Bagbin.
The impasse centres on a controversial move to remove the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, over alleged procurement breaches
Inside sources reveal that the Speaker of Parliament invited both the Governing Council and the Vice-Chancellor to his office on May 25, 2026, to find an amicable resolution. Although the Chairman reportedly attempted to sideline regular Council members by showing up with uninvited management staff instead, several Council members still honoured the invitation out of respect for the Speaker’s office
At that meeting, both the Chairman and Council members explicitly agreed to let the Speaker mediate. This was followed by an official letter from the Speaker on June 4, 2026, solidifying his commitment to a resolution.
However, at an emergency Council meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the Chairman reportedly made a sharp U-turn, dismissing objections from members who argued that discussing the investigative report was improper while mediation was active under both the Speaker and the Minister of Education.
This development comes despite an earlier directive from the Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, who on May 12, 2026, placed a strict stay of execution on the report. The Minister had ordered that no action be taken until he personally reviewed the document and reconvened all stakeholders to a follow-up meeting that is yet to happen.
The June 9 meeting reportedly degenerated into heated, hostile exchanges, with members accusing the Council Chairman of autocratic behaviour.
The chaos peaked during a vote to accept or reject the Investigative Committee’s report. According to the university’s Statute 13, Section 16, any recommendation affecting the removal of a Vice-Chancellor requires a special resolution supported by at least a two-thirds majority of the entire Council.
Sensing they lacked the numbers, the Chairman and his allies reportedly pushed to use Statute 8, Section 6, which allows for a simple majority but is strictly meant for routine university matters. In what inside sources describe as a “Machiavellian tactic,” the Chairman forced a vote on which statute to use.
Refusing to participate in what they termed an illegal process, several Council members staged a dramatic walkout, insisting the statutes are clear and cannot be voted against. The remaining members proceeded to vote via a simple majority in an attempt to oust the Vice-Chancellor.
Unresolved friction has plagued the university since the Vice-Chancellor was pushed out of office on February 13, 2026, initially via a one-year accumulated leave directive blocked by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and later through an annual leave directive.
Insiders allege the procurement allegations are part of a targeted campaign spearheaded by the Director of Finance, Stephen Tobazaa, following past administrative disagreements with the Vice-Chancellor. Fears are now rising among staff that the ongoing push to eliminate the Vice-Chancellor, the Director of Procurement, and the Director of Works is an attempt to clear the path for the mismanagement of university funds.
The internal warfare has brought academic and administrative harmony at BTU to a grinding halt. Currently, about 34 staff members are facing disciplinary action simply for holding a press conference to condemn the Council Chairman’s actions.
As the campus holds its breath, all eyes are now on the Speaker of Parliament and the Ministry of Education to see how they will respond to this open defiance of state authority.
