Parliament has approved the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, restoring the name Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) for the agency that had been operating as the National Investigations Bureau (NIB).
The legislation, passed on Wednesday, March 18, introduces a number of changes aimed at reshaping Ghana’s national security architecture.
Earlier, on February 19, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, explained that the decision to revert to the BNI name was meant to address public confusion, as “NIB” is often mistaken for the National Investment Bank.
However, the move faced opposition from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who warned that the reforms could centralise too much authority within the security system and risk undermining civil liberties. He described the issue as politically sensitive.
“A reference to the Bureau of National Investigations, the National Intelligence Bureau or the internal intelligence agency in any enactment or document existing before the coming into force of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the Bureau of National Intelligence.
“A reference to the external intelligence agency in any enactment or document existing before the coming into force of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the Research Department,” he said.
The new law also grants the President the authority to appoint a minister to supervise the National Security Coordinator, effectively removing the need for a standalone Minister for National Security.
In addition, the Bill provides a more detailed legal framework for the work of the National Security Council and formally integrates Regional and District Security Councils to improve coordination across all levels.
It further defines the responsibilities of key institutions tasked with implementing government security policies, addressing both domestic and external threats.
A notable component of the legislation is the formal establishment of the Office of the National Security Coordinator as a central part of the intelligence system, intended to strengthen coordination and improve overall effectiveness.
The Bill also seeks to repeal the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030), aligning the legal framework with the government’s current approach to national security reforms.
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