Why former NIA boss Ken Attafuah has been honoured by a legal community

Former Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, has been named Star of the Month for July 2026, by The Law Platform.

The honours which was announced on July 1, 2026, described Prof Attafuah as a distinguished legal practitioner, academic and governance expert whose career has significantly shaped Ghana's legal and public administration landscape.

According to the publication, Prof Attafuah has devoted his professional life to legal and non-legal academia, legal practice and public service.

"Our Star has devoted his life to legal and non-legal academia, public service and legal practice. Our Star is a Notary Public, a Criminologist, a world-class Governance and Leadership expert, and a Management Consultant of international distinction and repute," it stated.

They also emphasised his more than two decades of experience in legal practice and legal education, noting that he was a member of the legal team representing the petitioners in Ghana's landmark presidential election petition.

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Beyond his legal accomplishments, the publication credited Prof Attafuah with spearheading one of Ghana's most significant digital governance reforms through the successful implementation of the Ghana Card programme.

It noted that as Executive Secretary of the NIA from February 2017 to November 2024, he led the transformation of the Authority into a modern institution at the forefront of the country's digitalisation agenda.

According to the publication, under his leadership the NIA developed a dependable National Identification System (NIS) and a robust Identity Verification System Platform (VSP), laying the foundation for inclusive social, economic and political development.

The Law Platform further observed that more than 18 million Ghanaians, both within the country and abroad, were registered onto the National Identity Register during Prof Attafuah's tenure, describing the achievement as a major milestone in Ghana's state-building and digital identity journey.

It further stated that his blend of legal excellence, visionary leadership and commitment to public service made him a deserving recipient of the legal community's recognition for July 2026.

Prof Attafuah is a lawyer, and criminologist, who has held various roles in human rights, anti-corruption, and governance in Ghana and abroad.

JKB/VPO

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