The government is set to rename the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) as part of reforms under the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025.
The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, explained that the change aims to resolve confusion caused by the NIB acronym, which is often mistaken for the National Investment Bank, a discrepancy inconsistent with existing legal provisions.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, January 19, the Minister said the renaming is part of broader efforts to streamline Ghana’s security architecture.
“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,” he stated.
Muntaka also highlighted that the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, proposes abolishing the specific position of Minister for National Security. Under the new framework, the President would have the authority to designate a Minister to exercise oversight over the National Security Coordinator.
However, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has strongly opposed the bill. He warned that the legislation could concentrate excessive power within the National Security apparatus and potentially lead to abuses of citizens’ rights, describing it as a matter of significant political concern.
