Parliament has approved the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, following its third reading, marking a significant shift in Ghana’s national security framework.

A key provision of the new law is the renaming of the National Investigations Bureau back to the Bureau of National Intelligence, restoring its former identity.

The change, according to government, is intended to eliminate long-standing public confusion with the National Investment Bank, which shares the same acronym, NIB.

The legislation also eliminates the position of Minister for National Security. In its place, responsibility for supervising the National Security Coordinator will rest with a minister appointed by the President, rather than through a dedicated ministry.

During earlier deliberations, the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, defended the reforms, stating that aligning national security coordination more closely with the Presidency would reduce bureaucratic tensions and ensure a more efficient command structure.

He maintained that the previous arrangement often created overlaps and friction between the National Security Minister and the Coordinator, which affected operational effectiveness.

However, the passage of the Bill was met with strong resistance from the Minority. Led by Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the caucus expressed concern over what it described as an overconcentration of authority.

The Minority Leader argued that the new framework places excessive power in the hands of the National Security Coordinator without adequate checks, warning that it could undermine parliamentary oversight.

He further questioned the basis for the reforms, noting that the memorandum accompanying the Bill did not sufficiently demonstrate shortcomings in the existing law.

Despite these objections, the Bill secured parliamentary approval, paving the way for a restructured and more centralized national security system.