The government has announced a major overhaul of Ghana’s firearms licensing system, revoking all existing firearm licences across the country and requiring gun owners to reapply under stricter conditions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak said the decision takes effect immediately and is aimed at strengthening public safety and tightening control over firearms possession nationwide.
Under the new framework, all firearm holders will be subjected to a more rigorous vetting process before new licences are issued. Applicants will now be required to undergo mandatory mental health assessments, drug screening, and structured firearms training.
According to the Minister, the reforms have become necessary due to concerns that some individuals have been using legally acquired firearms for purposes beyond those for which they were originally licensed.
As part of the broader crackdown, the government also plans to destroy more than 2,000 firearms that were either voluntarily surrendered or seized under the national gun amnesty programme.
The announcement comes shortly after the suspension of the operating licence of Kantanka Security Services Limited following the shooting incident in Kwabenya that left former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo injured.
Authorities say the company is being investigated over alleged regulatory breaches involving the possession and use of firearms and ammunition by some of its personnel while on duty.
Government officials insist the latest measures are designed to close loopholes in the current licensing system, improve oversight, and ensure that firearms do not end up in the wrong hands.
The reforms are expected to affect thousands of firearm holders across Ghana as authorities move to implement one of the most significant gun control measures in recent years.
