Parliament has passed the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, introducing significant reforms to Ghana’s national security architecture.

The legislation empowers the President to designate a minister to oversee the National Security Coordinator, while abolishing the substantive position of a Minister for National Security.

It also renames the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI).

The bill further provides a comprehensive legal framework for the operations of the National Security Council, and formally establishes Regional and District Security Councils to strengthen coordination at sub-national levels.

Additionally, it outlines the roles of key state agencies responsible for implementing government security policies, covering both internal and external threats.

A key feature of the legislation is the establishment of the Office of the National Security Coordinator as an integral part of the security and intelligence structure, with a mandate to streamline coordination and improve the overall effectiveness of Ghana’s security apparatus.

“The Bill envisages that the National Security Council, which is chaired by the President, will work directly with the Office of the National Security Co-ordinator and the Directors-General of the intelligence agencies.

The President will, however, assign ministerial responsibility for national security to a Minister. The Bill establishes the Office of the National Security Co-ordinator to be part of the security and intelligence agencies.

The Bill also seeks to streamline the functions of the National Security Co-ordinator and the security and intelligence agencies.

The Bill, therefore, seeks to repeal the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030) to establish the required national security architecture in accordance with Government policy,” part of the Bill said.