The Governing Council of the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) has written a letter to the suspended Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, telling him that three allowances will be withheld from him throughout the suspension period.
The three allowances comprise vehicle maintenance support, entertainment allowance and responsibility allocation.
“You shall receive your full salary and all statutory benefits during the period of the suspension. However, responsibility allowance, vehicle maintenance allowance, entertainment allowance, and other emoluments attached exclusively to the office of Vice-Chancellor shall be withheld for the duration of the suspension,” says the suspension letter.
The letter, signed by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Bishop Amigya-Bia Akolgo, further tells Prof. Alnaa, who is being investigated by a five-member committee for alleged contract irregularities, that he has been barred from exercising the leadership powers of a vice-chancellor throughout the investigation period.
“You are to vacate the Vice Chancellor’s office and hand over all official documents, records, equipment, and assets in your possession to the Pro-Vice Chancellor immediately upon receipt of this letter.
“You shall also not exercise any powers, functions, or authority of the Vice-Chancellor for the duration of this suspension. You are to remain available to the Investigative Committee and must cooperate fully with its proceedings,” it adds.
Background
It is reported that money belonging to the general public, quoted at twenty-seven million, nine hundred and sixty-seven thousand, nine hundred and ninety-two cedis (¢27, 967, 992.00) was spent by the public university in 2024 on computers, furniture, air conditioners and projectors.
The money in question was a grant provided to the university by the Government of Ghana through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
The items were reportedly purchased and supplied without following due “procurement processes and without consideration of value for money”.
It also alleged that a set of furniture belonging to the university was disposed of without authorisation and without constituting a Board of Survey, contrary to Sections 83 and 84 of Act 663 and the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378).
On Saturday, 31 January 2026, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, directed the university’s governing council to investigate the procurement deal immediately.
He also said the government would involve some state investigative authorities, 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 investigation if necessary.
On Friday, 13 February 2026, the governing council held an emergency meeting and decided that the vice-chancellor, as the university’s spending officer, be suspended from office pending the final outcome of the probe.
The council also commissioned a five-member committee on Friday to go into the matter. Sources say the university’s Director of Procurement, Samuel Aduko, is due to appear before the committee soon.
Source: Edward Adeti/Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org/Ghana/West Africa
