Parliament has passed the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, restoring the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) as the official name of the agency previously known as the National Investigations Bureau (NIB).
The Bill, approved on Wednesday, March 18, introduces significant changes to Ghana’s national security framework.
Earlier, on February 19, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, explained that the renaming aims to eliminate confusion surrounding the NIB acronym, which is often mistaken for the National Investment Bank.
However, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, opposed the legislation, warning that it could concentrate excessive power within the national security apparatus and potentially lead to abuses of citizens’ rights. He described the issue as one of significant political concern.
He further explained that references to the Bureau of National Investigations, the National Intelligence Bureau, or the internal intelligence agency in any existing enactment or document will now be interpreted as references to the Bureau of National Intelligence. References to the external intelligence agency will similarly be construed as the Research Department.
The legislation empowers the President to designate a minister to oversee the National Security Coordinator, effectively abolishing the substantive position of a Minister for National Security.
It also establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the operations of the National Security Council and formally recognises Regional and District Security Councils to strengthen coordination at sub-national levels.
In addition, the Bill outlines the roles of key state agencies responsible for implementing government security policies, addressing both internal and external threats.
A key feature of the law is the establishment of the Office of the National Security Coordinator as an integral part of the security and intelligence structure, aimed at improving coordination and enhancing the effectiveness of Ghana’s security system.
The legislation further seeks to repeal the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030) in line with the government’s policy direction on national security reforms.
