Bolgatanga Technical University Terminates Vice-Chancellor Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa’s Appointment
The Governing Council of the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) has terminated the appointment of Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa as Vice-Chancellor, with the decision taking effect on June 11, 2026.
Prof. Alnaa has since initiated court action challenging the Council’s decision.
Also affected by the Council’s latest actions, which relate to alleged procurement irregularities, are two key directors who have been demoted in rank and suspended for three months each. They are Samuel Aduko, Director of Procurement, and Tom Mboya Asigri, Director of Works and Physical Development.
A fourth official, Solomon Awariya, Acting Director of Finance, has been issued a warning letter.
The developments stem from issues that began in December 2025 when Prof. Alnaa was first asked to proceed on a one-year leave, which was later converted into suspension to allow a Special Investigation Committee to probe alleged procurement breaches.
At the time, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) intervened and stayed the Council’s decisions, describing the directive for the Vice-Chancellor to proceed on leave as “unprecedented and potentially problematic.”
Sources within the university community have indicated that the matter escalated following a perceived rift between Prof. Alnaa and the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Bishop Akolgo Amigya-Bia.
The issues have since been escalated to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament and the Minister of Education for intervention and amicable resolution.
Due to these interventions, GTEC has written to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) requesting a stay of execution on the termination and demotions regarding payroll matters until the issues are fully resolved.
VCTU-G Suspends BTU from Association Activities
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G) have suspended Bolgatanga Technical University from all their activities until the matter is resolved.
In a letter dated June 26, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the BTU Governing Council and signed by Prof Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, the association expressed grave concern over the processes leading to the termination and demotions.
The VCTU-G noted that it had encountered difficulties in engaging the Governing Council for an amicable resolution and criticised the Council’s disregard for directives from GTEC.
The association stated that the actions represent an unprecedented exercise of Council authority that threatens established principles of university governance.
Council’s Reasons for Termination
The Governing Council cited “good cause” for terminating Prof. Alnaa’s appointment, pointing to alleged breaches of the Public Procurement Act and the Public Financial Management Act.
The Council claimed that Prof. Alnaa awarded a GH¢27,967,992 GETFund-financed contract to M-Business Services Limited in April 2024 without the required approvals, made false representations to the Public Procurement Authority, and authorised the disposal of 866 items of university furniture without proper procedures.
The Council further alleged that the items were procured at prices significantly higher than market rates, resulting in substantial financial loss to the university and the state.
Prof. Alnaa has been given 14 days to make representations, though the termination takes immediate effect. He has also been ordered to hand over all university property within 48 hours and refrain from accessing university facilities.
The matter has been referred to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Financial Intelligence Centre, and the Auditor-General for further investigations, including possible surcharge and criminal proceedings.
Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, who holds a PhD in Economics, previously served in various leadership roles at the university, including as Rector, before his appointment as Vice-Chancellor.
