The Minority in Parliament has strongly criticised the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, describing it as deeply flawed and overly centralising excessive power in the Presidency while lacking adequate safeguards and independent oversight.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, February 18, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin emphasised that although the Minority supports the need to reform Ghana’s national security architecture, the current draft of the Bill falls far short of acceptable standards.
“Let me be clear. The Minority Caucus supports the need to reform Ghana’s national security architecture. Our country requires a modern, efficient and professional intelligence system that protects citizens and safeguards our constitutional order,” he stated.
However, Mr Afenyo-Markin warned that the Bill concentrates far too much appointing authority in the hands of the President. This includes the power to appoint the National Security Coordinator and the Directors-General of key intelligence agencies without any requirement for parliamentary vetting or approval.
“These offices control agencies with coercive powers and access to sensitive national data. It is unacceptable that they operate without legislative scrutiny,” he argued.
The Minority Leader further highlighted what he described as weak oversight mechanisms that remain firmly under Executive dominance. He pointed out that the National Security Council, which is chaired by the President, effectively becomes the governing body of the intelligence agencies — creating a situation of “self-oversight” that undermines genuine accountability.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also criticised the Bill for failing to establish an independent inspector-style body equipped with proactive investigative powers to monitor the operations of the security and intelligence agencies.
“For these reasons, we cannot support the Bill in its present form,” he declared.
The Minority is therefore calling on Parliament to introduce meaningful amendments, including the insertion of robust independent oversight mechanisms, to ensure that national security operations remain accountable, transparent and firmly grounded in the Constitution.