BNI changes name to National Intelligence Bureau (NIB)

The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has changed its name to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).

This is in line with Section 12 of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (ACT 1030).

The Director-General of the National Intelligence Bureau in a publication in the Daily Graphic newspaper on Monday, November 23, 2020 asked the public to take note of the change in name which is with "immediate effect."

"The Bureau of National Investigation wishes to inform the general public that, per Section 12 of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020, (ACT 1030), the Bureau is now named the NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE BUREAU with immediate effect."

"All are to take note accordingly," the public notice said.

NIB

The NIB is an integral intelligence agency in Ghana.

It is an integral part of the National Security Council which oversees matters of counter intelligence and internal security in Ghana.

The duties of the NIB is to deal with organised crimes and financial crimes, sabotage, terrorism, hijacking, piracy, drug, trafficking and providing intelligence to counter threats to Ghana’s national security.

The NIB has the investigative jurisdiction to arrest, detain and interrogate people associated with criminal offenses.

The Section 12 of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030), was passed to repeal the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 1996 (Act 526) which could not adequately address the emerging national security challenges, and other significant matters.

Section 12 Act (1030) seeks to restructure the national security architecture to adequately respond to emerging national security challenges and to adequately cater for national security policy direction.

It also seeks to expand the functions of the intelligence agencies to include combating of global security challenges such as cybercrime and terrorism.

Additionally, Act (1030) will create additional committees of the National Security Council and clarified the roles of the key actors in the national security architecture.