After seven years of leadership (2017-2024), Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah has officially retired as Executive Secretary of Ghana’s National Identification Authority (NIA).
Reflecting on his tenure, Professor Attafuah highlighted both the challenges and achievements that have defined his time with the NIA, expressing pride in the strides made to build a comprehensive national identity system.
“When I first took on this role seven years ago, the NIA faced numerous challenges,” Professor Attafuah said in his farewell message, noting obstacles that ranged from operational hurdles to public skepticism. His leadership transformed the NIA into what he described as a “service-driven organisation committed to providing every Ghanaian with a unique and secure identity.”
Under his stewardship, the NIA digitised its operations, establishing a widespread network of 16 regional offices, 276 district offices, and 10 premium centres to improve accessibility. Notably, the authority also launched a programme to register children aged 6-14, underscoring its commitment to inclusive identity from an early age.
A defining achievement was the recent global registration initiative for Ghanaians living abroad, inaugurated on 22nd October 2024, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The pilot registrations began in Ottawa, Toronto, Washington, D.C., and New York, with plans to expand into six European countries, including Germany and France. This initiative has helped the NIA reach over 18.3 million Ghanaians globally. “Every card issued represents a Ghanaian equipped with an identity,” Professor Attafuah remarked, celebrating the project’s impact on national and international identity inclusivity.
In his farewell message, Professor Attafuah expressed deep gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for entrusting him with this critical mandate, and to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for his visionary support in driving the NIA’s digitalisation efforts. He also commended Identity Management Systems II Limited, whose partnership allowed for innovation and expansion.
While stepping down, Professor Attafuah urged NIA staff to continue upholding values of “integrity, perseverance, and service to the people of Ghana.” He assured them of his confidence in their capability to carry on the mission with “wisdom and purpose.”
