President Mahama Assents to Landmark Security and Tax Reforms | Discuss Ghana

On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama officially signed five critical bills into law, marking the most significant legislative overhaul since the commencement of his "National Reset" administration.

The centerpiece of this legislative package is the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2025, which fundamentally restructures Ghana’s internal security architecture and abolishes the cabinet-level position of Minister for National Security.

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1. Security: Abolition of National Security Ministry & The Return of BNI

The Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2025, introduces a more centralized and coordinated approach to national intelligence:

Ministerial Shift: The dedicated Minister for National Security position is abolished. Oversight of the National Security Coordinator will now be designated to a specific Minister (likely Interior) as appointed by the President, aimed at reducing bureaucratic overlap.

The "NIB to BNI" Rebrand: The National Investigations Bureau (NIB) has been officially renamed the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI). Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak explained this move was necessary to end the persistent public confusion between the intelligence agency and the National Investment Bank (NIB).

Centralization: The Act strengthens the authority of the National Security Coordinator to lead the "National Reset" of intelligence gathering and border security.

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2. Economic Reforms: Tax Consolidation

President Mahama also assented to two major financial bills designed to broaden the tax base while simplifying administration:

Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2025: Adjusts personal and corporate tax brackets to align with the current inflationary environment and provide relief to low-income earners.

Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, 2025 (Act 1151): This consolidated law sets the standard VAT rate at 15%. It mandates a new certified e-invoicing system and requires importers of taxable goods exceeding GH₵750,000 to make an upfront payment of 20% if they are not already VAT-registered.

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3. Education: University and Pre-Tertiary Overhaul

The final two bills focus on the President's "human capital reset" for the youth:

Pre-Tertiary Education (Amendment) Act, 2025: Streamlines the management of basic and senior high schools, giving more autonomy to regional education directorates to improve local learning outcomes.

University of Applied Sciences Act, 2025: This law establishes a new framework for technical universities, specifically converting several vocational institutes into fully-fledged Universities of Applied Sciences to drive industrialization and the "One Million Coders" initiative.

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Snapshot: The Five New Laws of March 31, 2026

Law	Primary Objective	Key Change
Security & Intelligence Act	Security Reform	Abolishes National Security Minister; Renames NIB to BNI.
Income Tax (Amdt.) Act	Fiscal Relief	Adjusts tax brackets for a "more equitable system."
Value Added Tax Act	Revenue Efficiency	Sets 15% rate & introduces mandatory E-Invoicing.
Pre-Tertiary Edu. Act	Admin Reform	Decentralizes school management to regions.
Univ. of Applied Sciences Act	Technical Skills	Creates new technical university standards.

"We are moving from strategy to implementation. These laws provide the legal bedrock for the National Reset that Ghanaians voted for. Our security will be sharper, our taxes fairer, and our education more practical." — President John Dramani Mahama.