A widely circulated letter purportedly issued by the Office of the President, revoking the appointment of Professor Ken Attafuah as Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), has sparked controversy.
Dated Thursday, January 16, 2025, the letter directed Professor Attafuah to hand over his duties to Mr. Wisdom Kwaku Deku, who has reportedly been appointed as the Acting Executive Secretary of the Authority.
The letter states, “H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, has revoked your appointment as the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), effective immediately,” further instructing Professor Attafuah to cede his duties to Mr. Deku. It also expressed the President’s gratitude for Professor Attafuah’s service to the nation.
However, in a detailed statement released by Professor Attafuah, he clarified that the letter’s issuance was baseless, as he retired from the NIA on November 13, 2024. His retirement followed the expiration of his post-retirement contract after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 on November 9, 2024. Upon his retirement, Professor Attafuah handed over the reins of the NIA to Mr. Mahama Suleman Sualihu, the Director of Internal Audit, who has since been serving as Acting Executive Secretary.
In his engagement with Dr. Calistus Mahama, Secretary to President Mahama, Professor Attafuah presented four key points to challenge the letter:
1. He retired from public service on November 13, 2024.
2. His exit coincided with the expiration of his post-retirement contract after his 65th birthday.
3. He had officially handed over to Mr. Mahama Sualihu in compliance with a resolution of the NIA Governing Board.
4. He submitted all necessary handing-over notes and transitioned properties belonging to the NIA.
Dr. Calistus Mahama, in a conversation with Professor Attafuah, acknowledged the error and assured him that the letter would be formally withdrawn. While an unofficial retrieval of the letter reportedly occurred, Professor Attafuah emphasized the need for a formal written withdrawal to dispel any lingering doubts and political mischief.
In his statement, Professor Attafuah reiterated, “I am happily retired and not serving as Executive Secretary of the NIA. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and should be disregarded.”
The incident has drawn public attention, with stakeholders calling for clarity and proper communication to avoid such administrative missteps.
