Mahama confirms Wisdom Deku as executive secretary of NIA

President John Dramani Mahama has formally confirmed the appointment of Mr. Wisdom Kwaku Deku as Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA). This follows the advice of the Authority’s Governing Board and in consultation with the Public Services Commission.

Mr. Deku was initially appointed as acting executive secretary on January 17, 2025, and served in the role prior to the President’s confirmation, which now gives full effect to his leadership of the Authority.

His confirmation brings continuity to the management of the NIA after the retirement of Prof. Kenneth Attafuah, who stepped down as Executive Secretary in 2024.

The confirmation underscores the government’s confidence in Mr. Deku’s long-standing institutional knowledge and technical expertise, particularly in the area of national digital identity management.

Mr. Deku’s professional journey at the NIA spans more than 15 years, having joined the Authority in 2008 as a temporary Technical Officer at the early stages of Ghana’s national identification programme.

Over the years, he rose through the ranks and became a central figure in the development and implementation of the National Identification System (NIS). He played a critical role in shaping the technical architecture of the system and in ensuring its integrity, security, and reliability, especially during periods of large-scale registration and data migration.

Mr. Deku brings to the role extensive experience in IT strategy, cybersecurity, and systems analysis, which has been vital to protecting the national identity database from threats and ensuring compliance with international best practices. His work has also contributed to the interoperability of the Ghana Card with other public and private sector systems, strengthening its role as a foundational identity credential.

Academically, Mr. Deku holds a Master of Science degree in Cybersecurity from the University of Liverpool. He also possesses several professional certifications in ethical hacking, IT management, and database administration, reflecting a strong blend of technical depth and managerial competence.

His confirmation comes at a critical time for the NIA, as the Authority seeks to consolidate gains made under previous leadership while addressing emerging challenges in data security, service delivery, and system expansion.

With his confirmation as Executive Secretary, Mr. Deku is expected to drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen institutional capacity at the NIA as it continues to support national development through a robust and secure identification infrastructure.