The Ministry of the Interior has revoked all existing firearm licences across Ghana, effective Tuesday, June 23, 2026, as part of a major overhaul of the country’s firearms regulatory system.
The sweeping move requires every firearm holder to reapply for a new licence and submit to a more rigorous vetting process, in a bid to strengthen gun control and safeguard public safety.
Announcing the new measures at a press briefing in Accra, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak explained that the reforms are designed to address loopholes in the current licensing regime and combat the misuse of legally acquired firearms. He expressed alarm at the fact that some individuals have abused their licences for purposes beyond their original authorization, posing serious risks to public security.
The new licensing requirements will be significantly tougher. Prospective applicants must now undergo mandatory mental health assessments, drug screening, and structured firearms training before any licence is granted.
As part of the government’s efforts to tighten regulation, Minister Mubarak also disclosed plans to destroy over 2,000 firearms that have been either voluntarily surrendered or seized under the national gun amnesty programme.
The announcement follows closely on the heels of the Ministry’s suspension of Kantanka Security Services Limited’s operating licence, after a shooting incident at Kwabenya that injured former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo. The suspension was prompted by alleged regulatory breaches, including the use of unauthorized uniforms and the possession of firearms and ammunition by security company personnel while on duty.
The Ministry said these new actions are part of broader efforts to enhance oversight of firearms possession and improve public safety throughout Ghana.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com