The Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Finance at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Isaac Boadi, has weighed in on the clash over the bill seeking to revert the name of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

Speaking on the AM Show on JoyNews on Friday, February 20, Prof. Boadi questioned the rationale behind the proposed reversal, arguing that repeated rebranding of Ghana’s internal security agency does not address deeper structural and operational challenges.

He expressed frustration over what he described as a cycle of renaming institutions without tackling core institutional weaknesses.

“A change of name — are we not tired of this? I don’t know where we are heading. For security, governance and clarity, these are what matter,” he stated.

He recalled how the agency once carried weight and commanded fear.

“I grew up knowing one name. When you heard that name, you were shaken. When you got a call from BNI, you would sweat. The name alone disciplined you,” he noted.

And now there is a clash over a bill to revert the name NIB to BNI.

“Are we having structural reforms? Will a change of name automatically address the operational practices, the institutional challenges, or public perception? I don’t know,” he said.

Prof. Bodi questioned whether legal reforms could not be undertaken without altering the institution’s name.

“Can’t we have legal reform without necessarily changing the name of an organisation? Have we done a cost-benefit analysis of this change?” he asked.

He stressed that renaming institutions comes with financial implications, including rebranding, documentation, and administrative adjustments — costs he believes should be carefully evaluated.

Mr Boadi further argued that Ghana faces more pressing national concerns that demand attention, particularly security threats and economic challenges.

Referring to recent security incidents in neighbouring Burkina Faso, he questioned whether enough attention was being paid to implementing action plans to address emerging threats.

“We wake up to news of killings. What have we seen in terms of implementation of action plans? What have we done?” he queried.

He also highlighted economic pressures facing state institutions and workers, insisting that national priorities must be clearly defined.

“We have daily issues that are more important to us. This discussion needs to change. I don’t know where we are going with our priorities,” he emphasised.

Prof. Boadi suggested that if government is intent on renaming public institutions, an independent commission or agency should be established to oversee such changes to ensure consistency, cost-effectiveness, and strategic direction.

“If we want to change a name, it must be properly structured and overseen. It should not just be added to a narrative,” he concluded.