The suspended Vice-Chancellor of the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa.
Media Without Borders has received a document showing two reasons the Vice-Chancellor of the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, was suspended from office “with immediate effect” 72 hours ago.
The verified document, signed by the Chairman of the university’s Governing Council, Dr Bishop Amigya-Bia Akolgo, and addressed to the university community, was released on Monday, 16 February 2026, after the council held an emergency meeting.
The suspension comes after the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, directed the council to investigate how the university spent twenty-seven million, nine hundred and sixty-seven thousand, nine hundred and ninety-two Ghana cedis (Gh¢27, 967, 992.00) in 2024 on computers, furniture, air conditioners and projectors.
But, according to the document, the vice-chancellor is facing a suspension with immediate effect not just because he is being investigated but because of “the gravity of the allegations and the quantum of public funds involved in the alleged procurement breaches”.
“Given the prima facie evidence made available to Council, the gravity of the allegations and the quantum of public funds involved in the alleged procurement breaches, Council decided to suspend the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel E. Alnaa, from office with immediate effect pending final determination of the matter, in line with Section 12 (1 & 2) of the Technical Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922) as amended as well as Statute 9 (4) and 13 (15) of the Bolgatanga Technical University Statutes,” part of the memo reads.
The money reportedly spent on the purchase of those items is a grant from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Many are keenly watching developments at the university as the vice-chancellor now faces a five-member committee commissioned to look into the procurement deal.
The vice-chancellor has also been directed by the council to “remain available” to the investigative committee and “cooperate fully with its proceedings”.
Media Without Borders contacted the vice-chancellor on Tuesday (today) for his comment on the suspension. He did not provide any statement on the matter before press time.
What Haruna Iddrisu said
The education minister ordered the investigation into the procurement deal while delivering a speech at a graduation ceremony held at the St. John Bosco’s College of Education, a public institution in Ghana’s Upper East Region, on Saturday, 31 January 2026.
He also said the government would involve some state investigative bodies, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), to support the governing council in the probe if necessary.
“I will refer this matter to the investigative authorities, either CHRAJ or EOCO or the police CID, to give me the full [report] on it, and government will act and act decisively on the recommendations of the committee if the council fails to unravel it. But the first instance is for the council to take ownership of the matter, probe into the matter because, as I said, we do not intend as a government to interfere with what happened.
“In truth, I wouldn’t know who the contract was awarded to. I understand it was awarded between June, July 2024. But what we want is value for money, because that is the best way to protect the taxpayer’s money. If computers are sold at this amount, plus or minus the profits, plus or minus the computer costs, must it be at a level where you would not be able to discuss how much they cost?” he stated.The voice of Haruna Iddrisuon the procurement deal probe.
A prominent public officeholder is widely rumoured to have supplied the items to the university at the stated amount amid conflict-of-interest concerns.
Sources say the public figure owns the company that supplied the items but used the spouse as a front for the procurement deal with the university.
The individual in question is a national authority in the education sector, a nonmember of the university’s staff and a member of a syndicate that is backing the vice-chancellor to remain in office.
Source: Edward Adeti/Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org/Ghana/West Africa
