President John Dramani Mahama has approved a major restructuring of the National Security Council Secretariat, announcing a series of high-profile appointments and redeployments designed to sharpen the country’s intelligence and operational capabilities.
In a statement issued by the Presidency on Tuesday, August 11, the reorganisation takes immediate effect, with the administration citing the need to “strengthen the operations” of the Secretariat amid evolving regional and domestic security threats.
Ayamdo Returns to the Fold
The most significant appointment is that of Major (Rtd.) General William Ayamdo, a former Chief of Army Staff, who has been named Deputy National Security Coordinator (Operations). Ayamdo, a seasoned infantry officer with extensive experience in counter-insurgency and border security, served as the head of the Ghana Army from 2016 to 2017. His recall to the security apparatus signals a pragmatic shift towards operational rigour, particularly as Ghana grapples with the spillover effects of the Sahelian terrorism crisis and the militarised nature of illegal mining (galamsey) in forest belts.
Donkor Moves to Intelligence Desk
In a move that blends institutional memory with new oversight, former National Security Coordinator Yaw Donkor has been reassigned as Director of Intelligence and Research. Donkor, who led the Secretariat under the previous administration, brings deep insight into the country’s threat matrix. His new role places him at the helm of analytical and predictive security work, tasked with refining the intelligence cycle feeding into the National Security Council.
Supporting Cast and Specialised Units
The restructuring also fills critical logistical and investigative gaps. Adamu Saaka has been appointed Director of Logistics and Transport, a role vital for ensuring that security deployments across the country’s 16 regions are adequately resourced. Meanwhile, Faustina Effah-Boadi has been named Officer in Charge of the Human Security Department, a portfolio increasingly focused on non-traditional threats such as food insecurity, health emergencies, and community-based conflicts.
In a move designed to bolster accountability and investigative depth, DCOP (Rtd.) Peter Ndekugri has been appointed Officer in Charge of the Special Investigations Unit. Ndekugri, a highly decorated former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), is expected to spearhead inquiries into high-profile crimes and potential security breaches, bringing a prosecutorial edge to the Secretariat.
Police Rotational Reassignment
The statement also confirmed that ACP Alhassan Osman has been reassigned to the Ghana Police Service for further deployment. This redeployment is seen as standard rotational practice, allowing the officer to return to the mainstream police command structure while the Secretariat undergoes its operational reset.
Strategic Context
The shake-up comes just over a year into President Mahama’s second non-consecutive term, which began in January 2025. The administration has consistently championed a “multi-sectoral” security approach, blending traditional defence mechanisms with socio-economic interventions. By tapping retired military brass and veteran intelligence officers, Mahama appears to be signalling a preference for experience and operational execution over purely administrative postings.
The Presidency has confirmed that all new appointees are to assume their roles forthwith, with the anticipation that the revised command structure will deliver a more agile and responsive national security mechanism in the coming months.
