Zanetor Rawlings Leads Public Hearing on Security Bill

The Chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Security and Intelligence, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has convened a joint public hearing with the leadership of the Committee on Defence and Interior to consider the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025.

The public hearing followed the laying of the Bill before the House, its referral to the relevant committee, and its subsequent gazetting, which invited members of the general public to submit memoranda. The process, according to Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings, was intentional and essential, given the sensitive nature of security and intelligence legislation.

She underscored the importance of inclusive lawmaking, noting that legislation of this magnitude must be shaped not only within Parliament but also through the voices of security practitioners, civil society organisations, experts, and citizens whose rights the law seeks to protect.

By engaging stakeholders from across the security and civic space, the committees aim to ensure that the proposed law is practical in its implementation, balanced in its safeguards, and aligned with real operational realities.

Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings stated that the ultimate objective is to produce legislation that strengthens national security and intelligence oversight while firmly upholding citizens’ rights, ensuring that the law remains credible, relevant, and effective long after the tenure of the current Members of the 9th Parliament.

The hearing forms part of Parliament’s broader commitment to transparency, accountability, and participatory governance.