Parliament passes Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, renames NIB to BNI

Parliament has approved the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, which reinstates the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) as the official name of the agency formerly called the National Investigations Bureau (NIB).

The Bill, passed on Wednesday, March 18, introduces wide-ranging reforms to Ghana’s national security architecture.

Earlier, on February 19, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, explained that the name change was intended 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 Bill, warning that it could centralise too much power within the security establishment and risk infringing on citizens’ rights. He described the proposal as a major political concern.

He further clarified that under the law, any reference to the Bureau of National Investigations, National Intelligence Bureau, or similar internal intelligence body in existing laws or documents will now be interpreted as referring to the Bureau of National Intelligence. Similarly, references to the external intelligence agency will be deemed to refer to the Research Department.

The legislation also grants the President authority to appoint a minister to supervise the National Security Coordinator, effectively abolishing the standalone position of Minister for National Security.

In addition, the Bill provides a detailed legal framework for the operations of the National Security Council and formally recognises Regional and District Security Councils to improve coordination at the sub-national level.

It also defines the responsibilities of key state institutions involved in implementing national security policy, covering both internal and external threats.

A key provision establishes the Office of the National Security Coordinator as a central component of the security architecture, aimed at enhancing coordination and improving overall efficiency.

The law further seeks to repeal the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030), in line with the government’s broader national security reform agenda.