The Interior Minister, Muntaka Mubarak, has revealed major reforms aimed at tightening control over firearm ownership.
This includes slowing the issuance of licences and digitalising the registration system to ensure compliance with the law.
Mr Muntaka outlined the systemic challenges he inherited upon assuming office, describing the firearm registration process as “simplistic” and prone to errors.
“I came to the ministry to realise that registration for guns was simply—you just write to the minister, a background check is done, and the licence is granted,” he said.
To address these gaps, the Ministry has deliberately slowed the granting of firearm licences. Officials are also working to streamline gun importers, aiming to prevent firearms from being brought in and sold openly, a practice that has previously endangered public safety.
“Like you saw in the fire at Kejetia, there were shops selling guns in the open market, which is against the law. These are the measures we are putting in place,” he explained.
A key part of the reforms is the requirement for firearms to be stored in approved magazines, where police oversight ensures transparency in sales and transfers.
“Even if you are going to sell a gun, we need to know who you are selling it to. This is critical for accountability and public safety,” Minister Mubarak said on Accra-based TV3 Ghana programme Hot Issues on Sunday, 15 March 2026,.
The Minister stressed the importance of tracking firearm licences, which by law must be renewed annually.
Under the current manual system, licences issued even in November or December automatically expire on 31st December, and tracking compliance has been challenging.
“Because the registration is manual, it becomes difficult to know the exact numbers. Officials have to scramble through files, sometimes giving inaccurate data,” he noted.
Minister Mubarak said the reforms are part of a broader effort to improve firearm accountability and enhance public safety.
By controlling the issuance of licences, monitoring imports, enforcing secure storage, and moving to a digital system, the Interior Ministry hopes to prevent illegal sales and reduce the risks associated with unregistered firearms.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
