The Governing Board of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has rejected a petition by NIA workers demanding the removal of Executive Secretary Professor Kenneth Attafuah.

The board has rather endorsed Professor Attafuah to continue in the role.

The staff added that his continuous stay in office could cause the NIA harm and reputational damage.

Further, the petitioners said that his removal from office would restore confidence among the working staff and reignite the authority’s image.

However, the governing board expressed confidence in Mr Attaffuah’s leadership in a statement.

It, therefore, described the workers’ 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 statement read.

It also criticized the union’s decision to petition the president without exhausting all internal avenues.

“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 board added.

The board, however, urged the staff members to exercise patience as efforts progress to address all their concerns.