Bureau of National Investigations
Abbreviation | BNI |
---|---|
Established | 1996 |
Legal status | Active |
Purpose | |
Region served | Ghana |
Affiliations | Ministry of National Security Ghana, Presidency of Ghana |
Budget | undisclosed |
Staff | undisclosed |
The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) is the internal intelligence agency of Ghana.[1] The BNI is an integral part of the National Security Council which oversees matters of the counterintelligence and internal security of Ghana.[1] The BNI has investigative jurisdiction to arrest or detain and interrogate over a wide range of criminal offenses.[1]
Among the duties of the Bureau of National Investigations are dealing with
History
During Ghana's decolonization, it obtained India's help in setting up two intelligence services: The Foreign Service Research Bureau (external intelligence) and the Special Branch (domestic intelligence).[4]
Organization
The Bureau of National Investigations, previously known as the "Special Branch," is a counterintelligence and internal security agency, composed of civilian personnel whose role is to establish close surveillance over opponents of the Republic of Ghana and the Government of Ghana.[5] The BNI has power to interrogate and detain people whom they suspect of subversion without trial indefinitely, on grounds of national security of the Republic of Ghana.[6] The BNI has overriding statutory authority over other security services
The organization investigates crimes of any shape or form as enshrined in the constitution of Ghana.
References
- ^ a b c d e f The Security and Intelligence Agencies Act (Act 526) 1996, Ghana.
- ^ "Functions Of The Intelligence Agencies". laws.ghanalegal.com. Archived from the original on 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "BNI changes name to National Intelligence Bureau (NIB)". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
- ISSN 0707-5332.
- ^ Ghana: Information on the Bureau of National Investigations and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
- ^ Adjorlolo, Ruth Abla. "BNI presents proposal to Parliament". www.gbcghana.com. Retrieved 2019-05-25.