Attafuah: I retired two months ago – former NIA boss responds to termination letter

Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, the former Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), has clarified that he retired two months before a letter terminating his appointment from the President John Dramani Mahama administration was circulated online.

In a Facebook post on January 18, 2025, Prof. Attafuah explained that he retired from public service on November 13, 2024, following the expiration of his post-retirement contract after his 65th birthday on November 9, 2024.

According to him, he had already handed over his responsibilities to Mr Mahama Suleman Sualihu, the NIA’s Director of Internal Audit, who has been acting as Executive Secretary since 14 November 2024.

This clarification follows a letter dated 16 January 2025, signed by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to President John Dramani Mahama, instructing him to hand over to Mr Wisdom Kwaku Deku as the new Acting Executive Secretary.

“I have already submitted my handing over notes, returned all NIA properties in my custody, and vacated the official bungalow,” Prof. Attafuah said, describing his interaction with Dr Mahama as “cordial.”

Prof. Attafuah further disclosed that Dr Mahama had acknowledged the oversight and assured him that the termination letter would be formally withdrawn by Monday, 22 January 2025.

Prof. Attafuah reaffirmed his retirement: “I’m happily retired and not serving as Executive Secretary of NIA. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and should be disregarded.”