Parliament has passed the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, restoring the agency’s former name, Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI), which had been changed to the National Investigations Bureau (NIB).
The legislation, passed on Wednesday, March 18, introduces several changes aimed at restructuring Ghana’s national security architecture.
Earlier, on February 19, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, explained that reverting to the BNI name was intended to eliminate public confusion, noting that “NIB” is often mistaken for the National Investment Bank.
However, the move was met with opposition from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who cautioned that the reforms could concentrate excessive power within the security system and potentially undermine civil liberties. He described the matter 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 interpreted as a reference to the Bureau of National Intelligence.”
“A reference to the external intelligence agency in any enactment or document that existed before this Act came into force shall be interpreted as a reference to the Research Department,” he said.
The new law also empowers the President to appoint a minister to oversee the National Security Coordinator, effectively eliminating the requirement for a separate Minister for National Security.
Additionally, the Bill establishes a more comprehensive legal framework for the operations of the National Security Council and formally incorporates Regional and District Security Councils to enhance coordination at all levels.
It also outlines the roles of key institutions responsible for implementing government security policies, addressing both internal and external threats.
