By: Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama has assented to five significant pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening governance, expanding access to education, and stabilising the economy. The newly signed laws touched on national security oversight, tertiary education, mining levies, and financial sector protection.
The five signed bills into law, each targeting critical sectors of national development.
The first, the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2026, removes the Office of the Minister of National Security and grants the President the authority to assign oversight of security agencies to any designated minister. The Act also restores the name of the National Intelligence Bureau to the Bureau of National Intelligence, reintroducing the familiar BNI designation.
The second, the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Act, 2026, establishes a new public university in the Eastern Region. The institution will operate across three campuses located at Bunso, Ohawu, and Akyirensua in the Ahafo Region.
The third law amends the Growth and Sustainability Levy Act, reducing the levy on mining companies from three percent to one percent. This follows the introduction of a sliding scale for royalties to ensure a more balanced revenue framework.
The fourth, the Ghana Education Regulatory Bodies Amendment Act, removes the requirement for universities to obtain charters under the previous regulatory regime.
The fifth, the Ghana Deposit Protection Amendment Act, enhances safeguards for deposits held by the public in banks and other financial institutions, strengthening confidence in the financial sector.
