Parliament has passed the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, marking a major overhaul of Ghana’s national security framework following its third reading and approval by the House.
A key provision of the legislation is the renaming of the National Investigations Bureau back to its former identity, the Bureau of National Intelligence. The change is intended to eliminate longstanding public confusion with the National Investment Bank, which shares the same acronym.
The bill also abolishes the position of Minister for National Security, introducing a new structure where oversight of the National Security Coordinator will be handled by a minister designated by the President, rather than through a standalone ministry.
During earlier deliberations, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, justified the reforms, explaining that the name change and restructuring are aimed at improving clarity and streamlining operations within the security architecture.
He argued that placing national security coordination directly under the presidency would reduce institutional friction and enhance efficiency in decision-making.
However, the passage of the bill followed weeks of intense debate, with the Minority in Parliament raising concerns over the implications of the reforms.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin criticised the bill, warning that it concentrates excessive authority in the office of the National Security Coordinator without adequate safeguards.
He further argued that the memorandum accompanying the bill did not provide sufficient evidence to justify changes to the existing framework under Act 1030.
Despite the opposition, the bill was approved by the House, setting the stage for significant changes to Ghana’s intelligence and security governance structure.
