Ghana’s government plans to rename the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) as the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) under sweeping reforms proposed in the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025.
Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka told Parliament on Thursday that the change is meant to eliminate confusion over the acronym “NIB,” which is often mistaken for the National Investment Bank.
“Anywhere in the world, the acronyms of security agencies are legally distinct to avoid confusion. Unfortunately, when you say NIB, people are unsure whether you mean a bank or a security agency. By introducing BNI, the Bureau of National Intelligence, we address this issue,” Muntaka said.
The bill also seeks to abolish the specific position of Minister for National Security. Under the new framework, the president would designate a minister to oversee the National Security Coordinator, consolidating oversight within the executive.
But the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin warned that the legislation could concentrate excessive power in the national security apparatus and risk abuses of citizens’ rights. He described the measure as “a matter of significant political concern.”
The reforms are part of broader efforts by the government to streamline Ghana’s security architecture, though the debate in Parliament underscores deep divisions over how far those changes should go.
