diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-automation.yaml b/.github/workflows/release-automation.yaml
index 7e71b4d88..39b679d06 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-automation.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-automation.yaml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ on:
 
 permissions:
   contents: write
-  issues: write
+  actions: write
 
 defaults:
   run:
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           ref: main
-          token: ${{ secrets.HEDERA_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: Import GPG Key
         id: gpg_importer
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ jobs:
           git_commit_gpgsign: true
           git_tag_gpgsign: true
           git_user_signingkey: true
-          gpg_private_key: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-          passphrase: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSPHRASE }}
+          gpg_private_key: ${{ secrets.GPG_KEY_CONTENTS }}
+          passphrase: ${{ secrets.GPG_KEY_PASSPHRASE }}
 
       - name: Install JDK
         uses: actions/setup-java@99b8673ff64fbf99d8d325f52d9a5bdedb8483e9 # v4.2.1
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           milestone_name: ${{ steps.version_parser.outputs.release }}
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: Create Release Notes
         if: ${{ steps.milestone.outputs.milestone_id != '' }}
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ jobs:
           omitBody: ${{ steps.milestone.outputs.milestone_id == '' }}
           prerelease: ${{ steps.version_parser.outputs.prerelease != '' }}
           tag: ${{ env.RELEASE_TAG }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
   create_pr:
     name: Create PR
@@ -178,7 +178,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout Repository
         uses: actions/checkout@692973e3d937129bcbf40652eb9f2f61becf3332 # v4.1.7
         with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
           ref: main
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: Import GPG Key
         id: gpg_importer
@@ -187,8 +189,8 @@ jobs:
           git_commit_gpgsign: true
           git_tag_gpgsign: true
           git_user_signingkey: true
-          gpg_private_key: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-          passphrase: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSPHRASE }}
+          gpg_private_key: ${{ secrets.GPG_KEY_CONTENTS }}
+          passphrase: ${{ secrets.GPG_KEY_PASSPHRASE }}
 
       - name: Install JDK
         uses: actions/setup-java@99b8673ff64fbf99d8d325f52d9a5bdedb8483e9 # v4.2.1
@@ -218,4 +220,4 @@ jobs:
           delete-branch: true
           signoff: true
           title: ${{ needs.release.outputs.pr_title }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.HEDERA_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_ACCESS_TOKEN }}