Parliament approves Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill 2025

Parliament has approved the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, ushering in far-reaching reforms to Ghana’s national security architecture.

The new law restructures oversight of the security sector by empowering the President to designate a minister to supervise the National Security Coordinator, while abolishing the standalone position of Minister for National Security.

As part of the changes, the National Investigations Bureau has been rebranded as the Bureau of National Intelligence, reflecting a shift in mandate and institutional identity.

The legislation also establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the operations of the National Security Council and formally creates Regional and District Security Councils to enhance coordination and responsiveness at sub-national levels.

It further defines the roles of key state agencies responsible for implementing government security policies, addressing both internal and external threats to national stability.

A central feature of the reforms is the elevation of the Office of the National Security Coordinator as a core component of the security and intelligence system, with a clear mandate to improve coordination and strengthen the effectiveness of the country’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.