Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Deku disclosed that management had recently resolved issues concerning a 20 percent operational allowance for workers after a demonstration.

“Just last month, our staff demonstrated over their 20 percent operational allowance. I am happy to say that the matter has been resolved, and the allowance has been paid,” he said.

Mr. Deku explained that one of his major priorities is to ensure that the NIA becomes financially independent in the near future.

“Currently, we are under government subvention, but before I leave the NIA, my vision is that the Authority should be able to generate its own income and pay staff salaries,” he added.

He also revealed that the Authority is in the process of migrating staff onto a new salary structure, with the Public Services Commission and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission already involved.

“Last month, I met with officials of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and I am hopeful the final report on staff migration will be ready soon,” he noted.

Mr. Deku stressed the importance of improving conditions of service, warning that poor remuneration could compromise the integrity of the NIA.

“When people working in such a sensitive organization are not well paid, it can lead to extortion and compromise of the system. That is why we are working hard to fix it,” he cautioned.

He further disclosed that part of the ongoing amendments will place the NIA permanently under the Ministry of Interior, which will allow the Authority to be recognized as a security institution.

“Once the migration is completed and we move permanently under the Interior Ministry, we will be pegged at the level of other state security institutions, and our workers will be paid well,” he assured.

Source: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy

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Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Koku revealed that the NIA is currently operational in 10 countries, including New York, Washington, Ottawa, Toronto, Rome, Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen, Berlin, and The Hague.

“We have publicised all these locations and are delivering services effectively and efficiently,” he said, encouraging Ghanaians abroad to alternatively register online via NIA.gov.gh.

He acknowledged that while the law requires registration to be conducted at Ghanaian embassies, limited staff capacity sometimes causes delays.

To address this, the NIA is preparing amendments to key legislative instruments—L.I. 201, 707, and 750—with stakeholder engagements scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Mr. Koku further disclosed that discussions are underway to expand services. “Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Zita Benson, recently met with me, and in no time, we will open an office in London,” he assured.

Source: Gertrude Otchere

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The Presidency confirmed his appointment.

Taking to X, he credited divine providence for his appointment while thanking the President for the recognition.

“This can only be God. Thank you, President John Dramani Mahama, for recognizing my potential and giving me the opportunity to serve,” Mr. Deku wrote.

I am extremely grateful to President John Dramani Mahama, for this recognition to serve as the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA). It can ONLY be God. 🙏🙏🙏
Resetting NIA to Build the Ghana We All Want Together. #TheGodFactor pic.twitter.com/MV2ZW6A7NC

— Yayra Koku (@YayraKoku) January 17, 2025

“The journey ahead is exciting, and I can’t wait to dive in and make a difference. A significant difference,” he added, assuring Ghanaians of his dedication to making an impact in his new role.

He also expressed gratitude for the goodwill messages and prayers so far.

Yayra Koku succeeds Professor Kenneth Attafuah, the former CEO of the NIA, who retired in November 2024.

The Professor of Criminology has held this position since 2017, leading the registration and issuance of the Ghana Card.

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The ‘Tap and Go’ system allows passengers to conveniently purchase bus tickets and book trips from the comfort of their homes.

However, concerns have been raised by some IT experts regarding the safety and security of the new technology.

Yayra Koku, a notable member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), took to Facebook to express his apprehensions about the initiative.

Mr Koku claimed to have discovered that the IP address associated with Bawumia’s Bus Monitoring system was hosted in China, raising questions about data privacy and security.

He said the system’s software could be easily accessed and manipulated by unauthorized individuals, potentially compromising passenger safety.

Also, Edward Adjei, a Tech Lead and Software Engineer, echoed Koku’s concerns, stating that he was able to bypass security protocols and gain access to sensitive user data and video recordings from the monitoring software’s server.

Mr Adjei highlighted several vulnerabilities in the system, including an outdated web server that could easily crash with certain payloads, posing a significant risk to data integrity and service availability.

Both of them stressed the need for urgent action to address these security flaws and safeguard user data.

They called on authorities to prioritize data privacy and implement robust security measures to prevent potential data breaches and protect passenger safety.

The revelations made by these IT experts have sparked widespread concern among the public and raised questions about the government’s oversight and due diligence in implementing the ‘Tap and Go’ policy.

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