President John Dramani Mahama has signed five new laws into effect, introducing wide-ranging changes across Ghana’s security system, education sector, mining taxation, and financial regulation.
The laws, approved by Parliament and assented to at the Jubilee House, are part of a broader effort to modernise governance, improve institutional clarity, and stimulate economic activity.
A major highlight is the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2026, which restructures oversight of national security by removing the Office of the Minister of National Security. The law also restores the country’s intelligence agency to its former name—the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI)—to eliminate confusion with similarly named institutions.
In education, the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Act, 2026 establishes a new public university, with its main campus at Bonsu in the Eastern Region and additional campuses planned in the Oti and Ahafo regions.
On the economic front, government has reduced the Growth and Sustainability Levy on mining companies from 3% to 1%, following the introduction of a new royalty framework. The move is expected to ease pressure on the mining sector while maintaining revenue through a more flexible system.
The reforms also extend financial protection under the Ghana Deposit Protection (Amendment) Act, 2026, which now covers mobile money wallets and other digital financial platforms—broadening safeguards beyond traditional banking.
Additionally, amendments to the Education Regulatory Bodies Act will give private tertiary institutions more operational flexibility, including the opportunity to apply for charter status.
Officials say the package of reforms reflects a coordinated push to strengthen national institutions, improve regulatory efficiency, and adapt Ghana’s legal framework to evolving economic and technological realities.
