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In a recent development, the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Prof. Kenneth Attafuah, has been directed by the Public Accounts Committee of Ghana’s Parliament to reimburse over GH₵98,000. This amount was deducted from the Authority’s account as a penalty for delayed transfer of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions.
The NIA, facing repercussions for not promptly remitting SSNIT contributions, utilized its own funds to cover the penalty. However, the Public Accounts Committee, in agreement with the Auditor General’s recommendation, has asserted that Prof. Ken Attafuah and the financial controller must bear the cost of the penalty.
During the hearing before the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, Prof. Attafuah was given a strict one-month ultimatum to refund the sum.
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, James Klutse Avedzi, emphasized, “The recommendation is that you should refund the money, the money should be refunded from the Chief Executive and Financial Controller. You have come to explain why you did not pay the money you withheld to SSNIT, but the committee will not accept your explanation. So the recommendation of the Auditor General still holds, the Chief Executive and the Financial Controller should go and refund the money to the recovery account of the Auditor General and this should be done in one month.”
