Petition against Ken Attafuah baseless, unwarranted – NIA

The Governing Board of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has rejected the petition filed by the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU) of the NIA, which called for the removal of Prof. Ken Attafuah as Executive Secretary.

The union had accused Prof. Attafuah of unfair labour practices, but the Governing Board dismissed these allegations and expressed their support for Mr Attafuah to continue in his role.

On July 1, the PSWU of the NIA submitted a petition to President Akufo-Addo, signed by 920 staff members, seeking the removal of Prof. Ken Attafuah as Executive Secretary.

The petition alleged unfair labour practices and reflected a decision endorsed by nearly all staff members, according to the Divisional Council.

However, in a statement released on July 5, the NIA’s Governing Board expressed its unwavering confidence in Prof. Attafuah’s competence and integrity, dismissing the petition as baseless and unwarranted.

“The Governing Board wishes to express its complete confidence in the Executive Secretary’s integrity, competence, experience and resourcefulness in the performance of his duties, including the advancement of the interests of NIA workers and roundly describes the petition as baseless and unwarranted.”

The Governing Board of NIA rebuked the NIA Division of the Public Service Workers’ Union for petitioning President Akufo-Addo to remove the Executive Secretary, without first exhausting internal channels and procedures.

The Board deemed the union’s actions premature and inappropriate, emphasising that internal mechanisms should have been utilised to address any grievances before seeking external intervention.

“As stated by the National Labour Commission (NLC) at a hearing on Wednesday, 3rd July 2024 into ongoing negotiations between Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (MSC) and the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), the NIA Division of the PSWU (NIA PSWU) has no right to petition His Excellency the President to remove the Executive Secretary without exhausting internal procedures; the NLC declared the conduct of the NIA PSWU as both “illegal and completely out of line.”

The Governing Board requested all staff to have faith and trust in the leadership of the NIA to achieve their common goal.

“The Governing Board shares the desire of the ICU and NIA PSWU and indeed all staff of NIA for improvement of their conditions of service and will continue to work with the Executive Secretary and Management and the unions to advance this common purpose in concert with other appropriate agencies of state.

“Accordingly, the Governing Board hereby requests all staff to have faith and trust in the leadership of the NIA and to join forces to achieve this common end.”

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