After seven years of transformative leadership, Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah has officially retired as Executive Secretary of National Identification Authority (NIA).
In a heartfelt farewell message, Professor Attafuah looked back on a journey marked by immense challenges and remarkable achievements, reflecting on how he and the NIA team worked tirelessly to build a comprehensive National Identity System that is now a source of pride for Ghanaians.
“When I first took on this role seven years ago, the NIA faced numerous challenges, from operational and technological obstacles to public skepticism,” Professor Attafuah wrote. Despite the challenges, he emphasized how the NIA workforce displayed resilience and dedication, ultimately transforming the institution into a cornerstone of Ghana’s national infrastructure.
Today, the NIA stands as a “service-driven organization committed to providing every Ghanaian with a unique and secure identity.”
One of Professor Attafuah’s proudest accomplishments is the modernization and digitization of NIA operations.
Under his leadership, the NIA significantly expanded its footprint nationwide, establishing 16 regional offices, 276 district offices, and 10 premium centres to make identity services accessible to all.
The Authority also launched an ambitious program to register children aged 6-14, emphasizing its commitment to inclusive identification from an early age.
A defining highlight of Professor Attafuah’s tenure was the recent launch of the global registration initiative for Ghanaians living abroad.
This endeavour, inaugurated on 22nd October 2024, in Copenhagen, Denmark, marked a major milestone for NIA, beginning with pilot registrations in Ottawa, Toronto, Washington D.C., and New York.
With an expansion to six European Countries – Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and France.
The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and France.
The NIA has now registered over 18.3 million Ghanaians worldwide. “Every card issued,” he noted, “represents a Ghanaian equipped with an identity and the power to participate fully in Ghana’s socio-political and economic activities.”
Professor Attafuah expressed deep gratitude to key partners and supporters who contributed to the NIA’s success.
He thanked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for entrusting him with this crucial national mandate and praised Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for his vision, which guided the NIA’s growth and digitalization efforts.
He also acknowledged the role of Identity Management Systems II Limited (IMS II) and its leadership, whose Public-Private Partnership allowed the NIA to innovate and expand.
While stepping down, Professor Attafuah encouraged his colleagues to uphold the values of “integrity, perseverance, and service to the people of Ghana.”
He expressed confidence that the NIA’s staff would continue the mission with “wisdom and purpose,” even as the search for his successor remains underway.
In a parting message, Professor Attafuah reminded his colleagues that “leadership is a journey, not a destination.” Reflecting on the joys, sorrows, successes, and setbacks of his tenure, he noted that these experiences build resilience and purpose.
He concluded with a wish for the NIA’s continued success, expressing gratitude for “an extraordinary seven years” of shared purpose and achievements.
The retirement of Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah marks the end of an era for the NIA but leaves a lasting legacy of transformation and progress that will impact Ghana for generations to come.
Peace out.
