Ken Attafuah

Kenneth Agyeman Attafuah is a licensed Ghanaian criminologist, mediator, management consultant, and human rights advocate. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party of Ghana. From January 2017 to November 9, 2024 he served as the Head of the National Identification Authority and championed the implementation of the National Identity Card dubbed “Ghana Card”.

Early life and education Attafuah was born in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, the youngest of seven children. Though his parents were illiterate farmers, they valued education and ensured all their children attended school regularly. He started his primary education at Juaso Local Authority Primary School in Juaso. He has often described his early education as an unhappy one. He was not a brilliant child and the constant comparison with his twin brother did not help. He considered schooling as an institution for bullying and tyranny. He attributes his change of view to one of his primary school teachers who encouraged him to read Bible stories and use them to develop his intellect. He soon became the best student in his class.

Attafuah sat for his Common Entrance Examination in form two and gained admission into Prempeh College. However, he could not afford the admission fees and so lost his place in the school. He received an award from the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana in recognition of his advocacy on issues that promote accountability and transparency from public officials.

Head of National Identification Authority In January 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo appointed Attafuah as acting head of the National Identification Authority. At the time of his appointment, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Central University in Ghana.

As head of the identification authority, Attafuah oversees the nationwide rollout of the Ghana card - a modern identification system and a smart identity card for Ghanaians.

Positions held and awards Attafuah has held several positions during the course of his working life. They include: Adjudicator with the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board Commissioner for Human Rights in British Columbia, Canada

Personal life Ken Attafuah and Joyce, his wife tied the knot on 31 December 1999.Attafuah and his wife Joyce have four children. He is the father of Businessman, politician and former National Service Personnel Association of Parliament President and Policy Analyst, Nana Boansi Agyeman Attafuah.