President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Major General (Rtd.) William Ayamdo as Deputy National Security Coordinator for Operations. This significant change is part of a comprehensive reorganisation of the National Security Council Secretariat, effective immediately.
Major General Ayamdo, who retired from the Ghana Armed Forces in 2020, brings extensive military and intelligence experience to his new role. He previously served as Director General of Defence Intelligence and led the Counter Terrorism Unit under the National Security Council Secretariat. His appointment aims to enhance operational coordination and specialised security functions within Ghana's national security framework.
This reorganisation aligns with the Mahama administration's ongoing efforts to realign Ghana’s national security architecture. President Mahama had earlier appointed Prosper Douglas Bani as National Security Advisor and DCOP Abdul-Osman Razak as National Security Coordinator. The Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025, recently passed by Parliament, also introduces reforms, including renaming the National Investigations Bureau to the Bureau of National Intelligence.
Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced these changes. The appointments are expected to bolster intelligence gathering and overall security operations. This reorganisation follows wider discussions about the structure and legal basis of Ghana’s national security institutions.
As part of the reshuffle, former National Security Coordinator Yaw Donkor has been reassigned. He will now serve as Director of Intelligence and Research at the Office of the National Security Advisor. Mr. Donkor previously held the National Security Coordinator position from 2014 to 2017 during President Mahama’s first administration.
Other key appointments include Adamu Saaka as Director of Logistics and Transport. Faustina Effah-Boadi has been named Officer in Charge of the Human Security Department. DCOP (Rtd.) Peter Ndekugri will now serve as Officer in Charge of the Special Investigations Unit. These appointments reflect a strategic effort to strengthen various facets of national security operations.
Additionally, ACP Alhassan Osman has been reassigned to the Ghana Police Service for further deployment. This concludes his assignment at the National Security Council Secretariat. Such reassignments are typical during major structural adjustments within security agencies.
The National Security Council Secretariat has faced constitutional scrutiny in the past. Some analysts have questioned its status, arguing that the 1992 Constitution does not explicitly provide for a permanent bureaucratic secretariat separate from constitutionally recognised security and intelligence agencies. These latest changes may address some of these structural concerns.
The new appointments are anticipated to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Ghana's security apparatus. They are crucial for maintaining stability and addressing evolving security challenges. Decision-makers and the public will closely watch how these leadership changes impact national security outcomes.
The reorganisation underscores the government's commitment to a robust and responsive security framework. It also highlights the importance of experienced leadership in critical national roles. The focus remains on safeguarding national interests and ensuring public safety.