Professor Ken Agyemang Attafuah, a renowned criminologist, says the excuse used by the government to relieve him of his duties as the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA) was unjustifiable.
�The cycle of reprisal and political vendetta must not be allowed to continue. It has stalled the development of this country and we do not seem to end the stalemate,� he said.
Prof. Attafuah was answering questions at a public lecture organized by the students of Ghana School of Law to mark its 51st Law Week celebrations, under the theme �Upholding Fundamental Human Rights: Role of the Law Student.�
After delivering the 5th R.E. Akoto Memorial lectures on the theme �Oaths, Pledges and Promises to keep � Advancing Human Rights in Volatile Political Times�, the students were allowed to ask questions, and one of them sought to know from Professor Attafuah whether or not Ghana is worth dying for.
In his response, the Professor cited his predicament at the NIA as a classic case of political victimization that had been allowed to grow to an unacceptable level, de-motivating others who would otherwise want to take up positions to help the course of national development.
He said the government cited incompetence, political leanings and not sharing the ideals of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as their reason for sacking him from the authority, adding �I have never been a politician or incompetent.�
Proffesor Attafuah stated �Maybe my close association with Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Nana Akufo-Addo�s running mate, during the just ended general elections may have prompted the government to assume I had political leanings, but that is far from the truth because Dr. Bawumia has been a personal friend. He was my best man during my wedding.�
On the issue of incompetence, Prof. Attafuah said �I cannot be described as somebody who is incompetent. I remember Valerie Sawyer calling to express her gratitude to me for the good work I did at the NIA and that I was one of the hardworking individuals she had ever seen. This clearly cannot be said to be incompetence.�
He also said that the vision of the NIA is to capture the data base of all Ghanaians to ensure security of the nations and did not understand why one should share the ideals of a political party before working with the authority, emphasising �the objectives and workings of such must be devoid of political interference�.
Furthermore, he said his source at the BNI told him there was no wrongdoing or financial malfeasance on his part and had indicated to him that if there was any malfeasance, it happened before he was appointed.
He said, �I was far away in Idaho, USA with former President F.W. De Clerk of South Africa when President Kufuor called me and asked me to take up the NIA appointment. He did not even have my number and had to call a few friends of mine to get it. I do not have any political affiliation. I am only helping to build a prosperous country.�
Prof. Attafuah however urged Ghanaians to continue to sacrifice for the country and not allow politics to divide them.
He also blamed the NPP government for failing to implement fully the recommendations contained in the National Reconciliation Report, adding, �The implementation of the report could have healed the wounds of the nation and united the people.�
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