Ghana’s Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, says the government has begun tightening regulations on firearm ownership by slowing down the issuance of gun licences across the country.
According to the minister, the decision was taken after he realised the process for acquiring a firearm licence was relatively simple and required stronger safeguards.
Concerns over the ease of obtaining licences
Speaking in an interview on the programme Hot Issues on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the minister explained that the existing system allowed applicants to obtain licences after submitting a request to the minister’s office, followed by a background check.
He noted that while background checks were conducted, the process still needed stricter oversight.
“I came to the Ministry to realise that registration for guns was simple. You just write to the Minister, they do a background check, and it is granted. Now I have slowed down the granting of those licences,” he said.
Government to regulate firearm importers
Mr. Muntaka also revealed that authorities are working to regulate the activities of firearm importers to prevent weapons from being easily brought into the country and sold on the open market.
He explained that the ministry is introducing measures to streamline the operations of licensed importers and ensure stricter monitoring of firearm sales.
“We are moving to streamline the importers to ensure that people don’t just import and sell in the open market,” he stated.
Plans to digitalise firearm registration
As part of broader reforms, the ministry is planning to digitalise the firearm registration and sales system to improve monitoring and accountability.
The new system, he said, will help security agencies keep accurate records of all legally owned firearms and their holders.
“We are moving to digitalise gun registration to make sure we know every gun that every person is holding,” the minister explained.
Reminder on annual licence renewal
The interior minister also reminded gun owners that firearm licences in Ghana must be renewed every year.
He clarified that all licences expire at the end of each calendar year, regardless of when they were issued.
“Even if you get the licence in November or December, once December 31 comes, it expires,” he noted.
The reforms form part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of the Interior (Ghana) to strengthen firearm regulation and improve national security by ensuring stricter oversight of gun ownership in the country.
Source: Africa Publicity
