IISS Commends Ghana For Peaceful Political Transition

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The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security (IISS) commends the Government and people of the Republic of Ghana for a peaceful transfer of power, following its peaceful December 07 general elections. The successful handover of power to a democratically elected President and Members of Parliament further demonstrates the growing resilience of Ghana’s democracy and an enduring beacon of democracy in Africa.

2. IISS extends its congratulations to President of the Republic H.E John Dramani MAHAMA, Vice President H.E Jane Naana Opoku AGYEMANG, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban BAGBIN and Members of Parliament on this historic occasion of 9th political transition of the 4th Republic of Ghana.

3. The Institute admonishes the new political leadership of the country to exhibit high level of commitment to good governance and responsibility to the people in the conduct of their public mandates as given by  the Ghanaian voters, and to act in manner that ensures free, fair and just society that promotes the general welfare and aspirations of the population, in line with the Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Chapter Six of the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution.

4. IISS as a specialized security think-tank specialized in national security intelligence affairs, in continuing its monitoring, assessment and evaluation of security developments, policies and programs, including tracking of political manifesto commitments and policy proposals of political parties, has taken critical notice of the NDC government’s security sector blueprint and policy proposals contained in its 2024 campaign manifesto for enhancing national security and public safety.

5. It is the expectation of IISS, that the MAHAMA government as a matter of priority would implement drastic, robust and critical reforms to address key factors and challenges affecting the effective and efficient functioning of the security system. The Institute takes notice of, and shall monitor closely proposed key institutional and structural reforms contained in Chapter 6. 4 of the NDC Manifesto, which among others, key priority areas should focus on;

a.  conducting investigations into recruitment malpractices undertaken by the past government and ensure the security services are purged of all politically recruited and undesirable elements, and restore merit-based recruitments, promotions and appointments into the security services.

b.  reviewing the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act 2020 (Act 1030) in order to;

    i. restructure and refine the intelligence community to meet demands of contemporary national security threats and global security dynamics.

   ii. restore time-tested standard and professional recruitment processes for recruitment, training and re-training of intelligence officers in line with international best practices and intelligence sector governance and national security management.

  iii. restore and mandate the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) to conduct vetting of all potential candidates for recruitment and appointment into the security agencies and sensitive establishments.

  iv. reform the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) into a highly specialized and professional center of national intelligence for the purpose of enhancing national security, defence and protection of the sovereignty of the Republic of Ghana.

  v. provide a legal framework to guide the direct appointment of staff to the Office of National Security Co-ordinator, to ensure only persons with specialist skills and highly  specialized expertise are employed to assist the Co-ordinator in the performance of his functions, with limited secondment of only personnel of the established security agencies to the Secretariat, ensuring that the respective security agencies are empowered to perform their constitutional mandates, without usurpation of the powers and mandates by politically recruited party elements performing parallel law enforcement functions under the auspices of the NSCS.

c.  Instituting reforms to prevent the misuse of the military in civil matters and empower the police, in collaboration with other security agencies to conduct its constitutional civil security mandate for the maintenance of internal security, law and order. 

d.  Liaise with Parliament to fast-track the operation of an Intelligence Select Committee of Parliament to deepen parliamentary oversight over the intelligence sector in line with the new Standing Order of Parliament.

6. The Institute, in line with its mandate as a professional, non-partisan and independent security think-tank, in offering policy recommendations and advisories to governments for improvement in the management of national security and professional functioning of the intelligence community, would be submitting a full policy paper outlining detailed recommendations and policy options, and engage with relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of National Security, Parliamentary Committee on  Defence and Interior for reforming the national security and intelligence system to combat new and emerging threats to national security, peace and stability.

7. IISS re-iterates its commitment to upholding professionalism in the conduct of national security intelligence and looks forward to working with all relevant stakeholders and similar organizations in promoting national security and international peace and stability.

Issued Accra, 07 January 2025.

IISS Directorate

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