The National Labour Commission (NLC) has ruled that the dismissal of Martin Akowuah, a former staff member of the National Identification Authority (NIA), was justified, affirming that the decision taken by then-Executive Secretary Prof. Ken Attafuah adhered to public service regulations.
Mr. Akowuah was dismissed in 2023 for unilaterally altering working hours at the NIA’s Madina district office without authorization. He later challenged his dismissal at the NLC, seeking reinstatement.
Following an investigation, the NLC ruled on March 14, 2025, that Prof. Attafuah acted within the legal framework governing public service employment. The Commission cited the Human Resource Management Policy Framework and Manual for the Ghana Public Service as well as the NIA’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on registration, stating that Mr. Akowuah’s actions were unlawful and irregular.
Reacting to the ruling, Prof. Attafuah defended his leadership approach, emphasizing his commitment to fairness and good governance. “I believe I’m fair to a fault, using my training as a lawyer to serve humanity with integrity,” he said.
He also expressed concerns about the challenges of institutional leadership in Ghana, lamenting the impact of politicization, misinformation, and propaganda on public discourse. “Thankfully, as in this case, truth stands, eventually,” he added.
