Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa locked out of office despite court order

Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, the reinstated Vice-Chancellor of Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), and two other senior officials were denied access to their offices on October 19, 2026. This lockout occurred despite a recent High Court ruling that quashed their removal by the University Governing Council. The court had declared the council's earlier decision to dismiss the officials unlawful, citing a lack of a required quorum when the decision was made.

Upon arriving at the university to resume their duties, Professor Alnaa and his colleagues found their office doors locked. According to reports, the university registrar informed the returning officials that the administration would not comply with the High Court’s reinstatement order at this time. The university cited pending legal motions, specifically a stay of execution and an appeal against the court's decision, as the justification for maintaining the lockout and preventing the officials from resuming work.

Professor Alnaa has condemned the administration's actions, describing the refusal to grant access as contemptuous and a deliberate delay tactic. He stated that the council's refusal to respect the judicial order undermines the rule of law and indicates a lack of unity within the university's leadership. While the Vice-Chancellor spoke to the media regarding the confrontation, the university registrar declined to provide further comments beyond the stated legal reasons for the lockout.

The ongoing dispute highlights a deepening rift between the BTU Governing Council and its executive leadership. The legal battle over the validity of the council's quorum and the subsequent removal of top officials remains a point of contention as the university awaits the outcome of its appeals. For now, the administration of the university remains in a state of uncertainty, with its legally reinstated head still unable to access his workstation.